Hundreds of women have come forward with allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against Dr. George Tyndall, the former USC gynecologist. Still more are expected to bring their own stories with similar claims—Tyndall examined more than 20,000 patients while he was employed as a USC gynecologist.

A tentative USC sexual assault settlement has been reached, but attorneys who have filed lawsuits on behalf of former patients of Tyndall have expressed concerns about the settlement.

Attorney John Manly, who has filed USC lawsuits on behalf of 180 women who were patients of Tyndall, told The New York Times that the settlement “does nothing other than sow confusion and deceit.”

The Los Angeles Times reported that attorneys involved in Tyndall cases criticized the settlement as “premature” because the “settlement did not allow for a full accounting of USC’s handling of Tyndall.”

Manly told The Los Angeles Times that the settlement is good, “If you are in favor of secrecy about sexual assault and in favor of protecting sexual abusers, this is a great day for you.”

“They want to shut it down, close the loop and end the inquiry on the documents showing who knew what—because it’s bad,” Manly said.

Another attorney, John Taylor, who is also representing alleged Tyndall victims, echoed Manly’s concerns.

“We are still trying to figure out the coverup and how it went on for so long,” Taylor told The Los Angeles Times.

Annika Martin, who helped negotiate the settlement on behalf of Tyndall patients she is representing, said that if a case goes to trial, alleged victims “could have come up with a verdict of more than $250,000,” but that Tyndall patients could also end up with nothing “with a jury verdict of zero.”

The settlement also protects victims from having to relive the sexual harassment trauma in a courtroom, Martin explained to The Los Angeles Times.

The USC Sexual Assault Settlement

The tentative USC sexual assault settlement was offered by the university. The settlement totals $215 million and, if approved, will end the federal class action lawsuit that includes hundreds of women’s claims of sexual assault while at USC at the hands of a campus physician.

Class Members will reportedly receive anywhere from $2,500 to $250,000 through this agreement. Any of Tyndall’s female patients at the USC health center could be eligible for $2,500, whether or not they’ve alleged abuse. Additional compensation of up to $250,000 would be awarded to those who “provide further details about their experience.”

Not all of the lawsuits that have been filed against Tyndall would be resolved with this USC sexual assault settlement; more than 400 independent lawsuits remain, according to recent reports.

The New York Times reports that up to 17,000 women may be eligible for compensation from the USC sexual assault settlement.

Joining a USC Sexual Assault Investigation

Thousands of Tyndall’s victims may still have yet to come forward with their own allegations of sexual assault while at USC, and may be eligible for compensation. Lawsuits allege that, along with Tyndall, USC’s inaction over the years despite reports of Tyndall’s behavior allowed the alleged sexual assaults and abuse to continue.

If you are a victim of sexual assault or misconduct at the hands of Dr. George Tyndall, former USC gynecologist, you may be eligible to receive compensation as a class member in this recent USC sexual assault settlement—but, as some legal experts note, taking part in the settlement may not be the best option for all victims.

Some may choose to join a USC sexual assault investigation to pursue compensation by other means, without taking what some experts consider too small a payout.

Unfortunately, sexual assault is all too common. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering felt by those who have experienced sexual assault, but it can help to provide some financial compensation, as well as hold those responsible accountable for their involvement.

UPDATE: July 2019, the USC, George Tyndall sexual misconduct class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.