The victims of the former doctor of the American women’s gymnastics team, Larry Nassar, will receive 380 million dollars after an agreement reached with the federation (USA Gymnastics), the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and their insurers. 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 sexually assaulting more than 250 gymnasts, mostly minors, committed over more than two decades while working for USA Gymnastics , 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 having concluded a compensation agreement with more than 300 victims.
Possible lawsuits against the FBI
“This historic agreement closes another chapter of the Larry Nassar scandal. The 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 let it be ”, responded John C. Manly, senior lawyer representing victims.
“There is still one chapter to write, that of the criminal prosecution of FBI agents who failed to investigate and arrest Nassar, as well as members of USA Gymnastics and the USOPC who conspired with them to hinder the investigation “, concluded Mr. Manly.
This chapter is finally closed. Now the hard work of reform and rebuilding can begin. Whether or not justice comes… https://t.co/dX9N40nM6r
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 a change is made depends on what happens next. “
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 assaults suffered, but also accused officials of the American Gymnastics Federation, the USOPC and the Federal Police (FBI) for their inaction to prevent the sexual assaults committed by the ex-doctor. The federation filed for bankruptcy in 2018, drowned in a very large number of legal actions brought by the victims of Larry Nassar.
Monday’s deal could be reached after insurance company TIG agreed to pay a “Substantial part” compensation. The deal includes a $ 34 million payment directly from the USOPC, as well as a $ 6 million loan from the USOPC to USA Gymnastics. Finally, as part of the agreement, a victim of these sexual assaults will be appointed to the board of directors of USA Gymnastics.
