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NBC News reported yesterday that a federal judge has ordered Ohio State University and hundreds of alleged sexual abuse survivors to pursue mediation in an effort to resolve the remaining lawsuits tied to Dr. Richard Strauss, the longtime team doctor accused of molesting athletes and students over decades.
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson issued the order on Monday as five active lawsuits involving 236 men remain pending. Survivors say Strauss abused them primarily under the guise of medical exams while he was employed at the university from the mid-1970s through the late 1990s. The HBO Documentary, “Surviving Ohio State” exposes the staggering scope of the abuse.
“The Ohio State University portrays itself as a different university today than it was when Dr. Richard Strauss abused hundreds of young men — for decades — as its employee,” Watson wrote. “Yet it is today’s Ohio State that must reckon with the consequences of that ugly past in these cases.”
Watson noted that going to trial could result in a “pyrrhic” victory, saying a negotiated settlement would be the best way for survivors to close “this horrific chapter” and for Ohio State to begin to move forward.
Watson appointed Layn Phillips, a former federal judge who mediated the landmark $500 million settlement Michigan State reached with athletes abused by sports doctor Larry Nassar. Phillips will be joined by mediators Catherine Geyer and Michelle Yoshida, along with a law clerk.
Survivors view this development as promising. “He got Michigan State to pay the victims millions in settlement money. So we see this as a big win for us,” one plaintiff told NBC News.
The court has set a February 27, 2026 deadline for both sides to provide a progress report, at which point the judge will decide whether additional mediation is necessary.
While mediation proceeds, attorneys will continue gathering testimony. Among those already deposed is U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, who served as assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1986 to 1994. Jordan has repeatedly denied knowing about the abuse, though some lawsuits allege otherwise.
Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005, is accused of abusing hundreds of young men. An independent investigation in 2019 concluded that he molested at least 177 athletes and students, and that coaches and administrators ignored warning signs for two decades.
Ohio State has already paid $60 million to settle prior claims and issued a public apology through its former president. Still, the university has resisted settling the remaining lawsuits, leaving survivors without closure.
For many survivors, financial settlements are only one piece of the resolution. The mediation process represents an opportunity for recognition, accountability, and a measure of justice decades after the abuse occurred.
If you are a survivor of institutional sexual abuse, you may still have legal options. Many survivors say the true value goes beyond dollars; it is about being heard, validated, and empowered to reclaim your life. Learn more about your legal rights here
