Attorneys representing survivors of sex abuse say the recent $215 million settlement of a class action USC sex abuse lawsuit is inadequate to hold the school accountable.

The University of Southern California recently announced that it would pay $215 million to settle claims against them relating to the USC scandal involving former school gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall. The class action USC sex abuse lawsuit alleged that Tyndall sexually abused and molested his patients for decades with the school’s knowledge.

The recently proposed settlement will pay each Class Member $2,500 minimum with maximum compensation per Class Member at $250,000.

However, some attorneys say this settlement is far too small – especially considering that it’s only been five months since the USC scandal became public and therefore little discovery has taken place. Some attorneys argue that discovery in a class action USC sex abuse lawsuit may reveal facts about Tyndall’s actions or USC’s management of the USC scandal which could ensure a more favorable verdict for survivors.

The attorneys represent almost 400 women who reportedly plan to opt out of the settlement.

“If this case wasn’t so serious, it would be hysterical how bad this settlement is,” said one plaintiff’s attorney, speaking to Law360. “We know no more about who was responsible at USC than the day this case started.”

“To say my clients are angry is an understatement,” the attorney said. “It’s like being violated all over again, except this time by someone who is supposed to care about you.”

Some of the plaintiffs’ attorneys also brought the suit against Michigan State University regarding now-jailed doctor Larry Nassar. That suit ended with a $500 million settlement. In the more recent class action USC sex abuse lawsuit, Manly represents 180 women participating in 150 lawsuits.

Another plaintiffs’ attorney told Law360 that the recent $215 million settlement is one of the quickest he’s seen.

“This is really an attempt for USC to move on and to protect Dr. Tyndall and USC from what will most likely be damaging information about what Dr. Tyndall did and what USC failed to do,” the attorney said. “This, to me, is a settlement that was pushed by USC in hopes of getting this resolved quickly so that they can put it behind them and not deal with the repercussions from what was decades of wrongful conduct, and they found class counsel willing to do so.”

Class Members who accept the terms of the settlement would be foreclosed from bringing their own individual sex abuse lawsuit against the university later. If Class Members chose not to participate in the settlement and opt out of receiving compensation, they could take part in a USC sex abuse lawsuit in the future.

The USC Sex Abuse Lawsuit is In re: USC Student Health Center Litigation, Case No. 2:18-cv-04258, in the U.S. District Court for Central California.

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