Victims of former U.S. women’s gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar will receive $ 380 million after a deal with the Federation, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and their insurers, reported Monday (December 13). the Wall Street Journal. This agreement, confirmed at a hearing in federal bankruptcy court in Indianapolis, ends a five-year legal battle.
Larry Nassar, 58, is serving a life sentence after being heavily convicted in 2017 and 2018 for sexual assault, on more than 250 gymnasts, mostly underage, committed over more than two decades while working for USA Gymnastic, but also at Michigan State University and a gymnastics club.
The compensation that will be paid is one of the largest ever awarded to victims of sexual assault, after the $ 500 million that Michigan State University pledged to settle in 2018, after concluding a compensation agreement with more than 300 victims.
Far more famous, Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney testified at a Senate hearing in September. They had not only described the abuse suffered, but also blamed the officials of the American Gymnastics Federation, the USOPC and the Federal Police (FBI) for inaction to prevent the sexual assault committed by the ex-doctor.
“This historic deal ends another chapter in the Larry Nassar scandal. Survivors have now received a total of $ 880 million in compensation for their pain and suffering at the hands of this monster, with institutions that have left it behind. To do”, responded John C. Manly, senior lawyer representing victims.
“There is still one chapter to write, the criminal prosecution of FBI agents who failed to investigate and arrest Nassar, as well as USA Gymnastics and USOPC members who conspired with them to hinder the investigation “, John Manly concluded.
Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar in 2016, welcomed the deal. “This chapter is finally closed. Now the hard work of reform and reconstruction can begin. Whether justice is done or not and change is made depends on what happens next.” The American Gymnastics Federation filed for bankruptcy in 2018, drowned by a huge number of lawsuits brought by the victims of Nassar.
This chapter is finally closed.
Now the hard work of reform and rebuilding can begin. Whether or not justice comes and change is made, depends on what happens next. https://t.co/611dOyACeP
– Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) December 13, 2021
As part of the deal, a victim of these sexual assaults will be named to the board of directors of the American Gymnastics Federation.