Former University of Southern California gynecologist George Tyndall has been arrested and charged with 29 felonies in a sexual violation scandal.

Authorities arrested Tyndall in late June and charged him with 18 counts of sexual penetration and 11 counts of sexual battery by fraud. 
Dr. Tyndall was accused months ago of sexually abusing patients during his career at the university’s health center from 1989 to 2017. Women who had gone to Tyndall for gynecological care have accused him of sexually abusing them during their doctors’ visits.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, recommended bail is almost $2.1 million, and Tyndall could face as many as 53 years in prison. CNN notes that Tyndall pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

In a statement, USC interim President Wanda M. Austin responded to Tyndall’s arrest by saying that the school has “cooperated with the LAPD and District Attorney’s Office investigations since the beginning and will continue to do so. We hope this arrest will be a healing step for former patients and our entire community.”

The District Attorney’s Office notes that these charges that the Los Angeles Police is still investigating Tyndall, as 134 crime reports were presented against him.

In the case that resulted in Tyndall’s arrest, sixteen women between the ages of 17 and 29 claimed that Tyndall had sexually abused them in ways that included sexual penetration and intimate touching. Allegedly, Tyndall told the women that these acts were performed for medical reasons. The women said that this abuse took place over a span of seven years.

Women have filed lawsuits against both Tyndall and the University of Southern California. They argue the university did not do enough to prevent Tyndall’s abuse of students, and did not respond appropriately in light of the allegations.

In one such sexual violation lawsuit, the University of Southern California has agreed pay settlements to between 14,000 and 17,000 students who were treated by Tyndall during his career at the university. As part of the settlement deal with the women, the university has also agreed to conduct a reform of its health facilities.

CNN reports that this settlement fund for survivors was granted preliminary approval for the amount of $215 million. Survivors’ advocates have decried the settlement as inadequate.

Who should pay this settlement is at issue in another lawsuit between the University of Southern California and its insurer, United Educators Insurer. In that case, the insurer argues that the university should pay the settlement, while the university argues that the insurer should pay the settlement.
UPDATE: July 2019, the USC, George Tyndall sexual misconduct class action settlement is now open.Click here to file a claim.

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