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Multiple class action lawsuits were filed alleging a decades-long sex abuse scandal perpetrated by Ohio State University’s wrestling team doctor and ignored by school officials. Now, the scandal may be moving from the courtroom to the small screen in a docuseries produced by George Clooney, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Five former Ohio State wrestling team members say that Richard Strauss, an official team doctor and assistant professor, sexually abused them and others. The allegations include sexual assault, abuse, battery, molestation, and harassment. The plaintiffs say Strauss used his position as the team doctor to intimidate students into submission and silence. Students who did report the abuse to coaches or school officials say that the institution turned a blind eye to the abuse, failing to take any action to stop Strauss.
“Ohio State must take responsibility for a dark (and until recently, buried) chapter in its storied history, a chapter during which its campus became a ‘cesspool of deviancy’ and its doctor and assistant professor, Dr. Richard Strauss sexually assaulted, battered, molested, and/or harassed potentially thousands of its students,” states the lawsuit filed by four anonymous former Ohio State students who say they too were victimized by Strauss.
A second class action lawsuit, filed by a single anonymous former Ohio State wrestling team member, also points to the numerous athletes from various sports that complained about Strauss’ behavior starting in the 1970s; noting that OSU took no action, allowing future students to be subjected to sexual abuse for decades.
Strauss has been accused of sexually abusing male students on the wrestling team as well as a dozen other sports teams. Despite reports throughout the decades, it wasn’t until 1997 that Ohio State held a hearing on the accusations. Strauss was allowed to “quietly retire” after that hearing, reports NBC News, and did not face any further consequences.
In 2005, Strauss reportedly committed suicide at the age of 67.
A former member of the OSU wrestling team talked to Esquire, detailing the abuse he and other teammates endured. He is the plaintiff in one of the class action lawsuits and claims that Strauss abused and even raped hundreds of male athletes between 1978 and 1998.
As for the docuseries, it has yet to find an outlet, according to reports.
What do you think about the allegations from members of the Ohio State wrestling team? Who should be held responsible? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.
The lead plaintiffs in CLASS ACTION 1 are represented by Simina Vourlis of The Law Office of Simina Vourlis, Rex A. Sharp, Ryan C. Hudson, Scott B. Goodger, and Larkin Walsh of Rex. A. Sharp, PA, Robert Allard of Corsiglia, McMahon and Allard LLP, Jonathan Little of Saeed and Little, LLP, and Stephen Estey of Estey & Bomberger LLP.
The lead plaintiff in CLASS ACTION 2 is represented by Daniel R. Karon of Karon LLC, and Joseph G. Sauder, Matthew D. Schelkopf, and Joseph B. Kenney of Sauder Schelkopf LLC.
The Ohio State Wrestling Team Sex Abuse Class Action Lawsuits are John Doe 1, et al. v. The Ohio State University, Case No. unknown, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and John Doe 1 v. The Ohio State University, et al., Case No. 1:18-cv-00483-TSB, in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio Cincinnati Division.
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