Sex Abuse Litigation

All major cases

Ohio State and Dr. Richard Strauss

Allegations from hundreds of former athletes against a university doctor, and the long fight over the university's liability.

41 developments, 2018–2026, oldest first.

2018

  1. Ohio State opens investigation into abuse claims against late team doctor Richard Strauss

    Ohio State announced an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Richard Strauss, a former wrestling team physician who died in 2005, and asked former students and coaches to come forward.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  2. Strauss investigation widens as more former athletes from several sports come forward

    Ohio State said additional allegations against Strauss had emerged from athletes in multiple sports, and outside law firm Perkins Coie was leading the independent investigation.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  3. Ohio State president emails alumni seeking information on Strauss

    President Michael Drake contacted more than 100,000 alumni asking anyone with information about Strauss to contact the investigators.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  4. Strauss inquiry expanded to include examinations of high school students

    Investigators broadened the Strauss probe to cover examinations he performed on high school students.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  5. Former wrestlers allege Rep. Jim Jordan ignored Strauss abuse as assistant coach

    Former Ohio State wrestlers alleged that U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, an assistant wrestling coach from 1986 to 1994, knew of Strauss's conduct and did not act. Jordan has denied the allegations.

    Allegation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by NBC News

  6. Jim Jordan denies knowing of Strauss abuse

    Rep. Jim Jordan said no athlete ever reported abuse to him and denied any knowledge of misconduct by Strauss.

    Allegation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  7. Ex-athletes describe years of alleged misconduct by Ohio State doctor

    Former Ohio State athletes described alleged abuse by Strauss spanning years, and said complaints were widely known in athletic facilities.

    Allegation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  8. New voyeurism claims at Ohio State facility test Jordan's denials

    Former wrestlers described a pattern of harassment and voyeurism at Larkins Hall, adding pressure on Rep. Jim Jordan's denials.

    Allegation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Politico

  9. House Speaker Paul Ryan defends Jim Jordan amid Strauss allegations

    Speaker Paul Ryan called Jordan a man of integrity and discouraged a House Ethics inquiry into whether he knew of the abuse.

    Allegation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  10. Jim Jordan interviewed by investigators in Strauss inquiry

    Rep. Jim Jordan was interviewed by the Perkins Coie investigators examining Strauss's conduct.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  11. New lawsuit against Ohio State over Strauss names Jim Jordan

    A federal lawsuit by former students over Strauss's alleged abuse referenced Jordan among coaches who allegedly knew of complaints.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Rolling Stone

  12. Ten more former students sue Ohio State over Strauss

    Ten additional former students filed suit alleging Ohio State failed to stop abuse by Strauss.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  13. Texts show former Ohio State coach urged Jordan accusers to recant

    NBC News reported text messages in which former head wrestling coach Russ Hellickson urged former wrestlers to retract statements about Jordan.

    Allegation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by NBC News

  14. Federal civil rights office opens review of Ohio State's Strauss response

    The U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into how Ohio State handled complaints about Strauss under Title IX.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  15. Accusers say more than 20 Ohio State staff knew of Strauss concerns

    Plaintiffs alleged in court filings that more than 20 university employees were aware of concerns about Strauss.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  16. State Medical Board confirms it holds complaint records on Strauss

    The State Medical Board of Ohio confirmed it had records of complaints about Strauss from its 1996 investigation, which never led to discipline.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

2019

  1. Independent report finds Strauss abused at least 177 students; officials knew

    The Perkins Coie report found Strauss abused at least 177 male students from 1979 to 1998 and that university personnel knew of complaints but failed to act.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  2. Gov. DeWine orders review of medical board's handling of Strauss complaints

    Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine created a working group to examine why the State Medical Board never disciplined Strauss after its 1996 investigation.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  3. Ohio State's annual safety report lists nearly 1,500 Strauss-related incidents

    Ohio State's annual campus safety report attributed nearly 1,500 sexual offense reports to Strauss.

    Investigation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by The Columbus Dispatch

  4. Lawsuit says referee warned Jim Jordan about Strauss

    A retired wrestling referee alleged in a lawsuit that he told Jordan and head coach Russ Hellickson about Strauss's conduct; Jordan called the claim ridiculous.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by CNBC

2020

  1. Former wrestler testifies Jordan pressed him to deny abuse claims

    A former Ohio State wrestler testified at a state legislative hearing that Jordan had called pleading with him to dispute his brother's allegations; Jordan denies wrongdoing.

    Allegation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by USA Today

  2. Ohio State announces settlements in 11 of 18 Strauss lawsuits

    Ohio State said it reached monetary settlements covering 11 of 18 pending Strauss lawsuits, with mediation continuing on the rest.

    Settlement Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Ohio State University

  3. Six former wrestlers tell CNN that Jim Jordan knew about Strauss

    Six former wrestlers told CNN that Jordan was aware of Strauss's conduct, which Jordan continues to deny.

    Allegation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by CNN

  4. Ohio State to pay $40.9 million to 162 men abused by Strauss

    Ohio State finalized a $40.9 million settlement with 162 survivors across 12 lawsuits.

    Settlement Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by NBC News

  5. Ohio State reaches $5.8 million settlement with 23 more Strauss survivors

    A second settlement of $5.8 million with 23 survivors brought the total to $46.7 million for 185 survivors.

    Settlement Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Ohio State University

2021

  1. Ohio State launches individual settlement program for remaining Strauss cases

    Ohio State opened a 120-day individual settlement program for survivors in five active cases, targeting average awards comparable to earlier settlements.

    Settlement Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Ohio State University

  2. Federal judge dismisses Strauss lawsuits on statute-of-limitations grounds

    A federal judge dismissed several lawsuits against Ohio State, ruling the Title IX claims were filed too late; plaintiffs appealed.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Reuters

2022

  1. Ohio State reaches two more settlements covering 57 Strauss survivors

    Two settlements totaling about $2 million covered 57 survivors whose suits had been dismissed, bringing the total to 289 survivors and $59.8 million.

    Settlement Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Ohio State University

  2. Ohio State settles with seven more Strauss survivors

    Seven additional settlements brought Ohio State's total to 296 survivors and more than $60 million.

    Settlement Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Ohio State University

  3. Sixth Circuit revives Strauss lawsuits against Ohio State

    A divided federal appeals panel ruled the survivors' Title IX lawsuits could proceed, reversing the dismissal on statute-of-limitations grounds.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by NBC News

2023

  1. Supreme Court declines Ohio State appeal, letting Strauss suits proceed

    The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Ohio State's appeal, leaving in place the ruling that allowed the lawsuits to go forward.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

  2. Former Ohio State wrestlers oppose Jim Jordan's bid for House speaker

    Former wrestlers said Jordan was unfit to be speaker because of what they allege he knew about Strauss; Jordan denies the claims.

    Allegation Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by The Guardian

  3. Facing more lawsuits, Ohio State denies covering up Strauss abuse

    With five lawsuits from more than 230 men pending, Ohio State denied a cover-up and argued the claims were time-barred.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by NBC News

2024

  1. Strauss plaintiffs say case could head to trial as judge encourages mediation

    At a status conference, attorneys for remaining plaintiffs said the case could go to trial in 2025 while the judge pushed for mediation.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Spectrum News 1

2025

  1. Documentary on Strauss scandal set for Tribeca premiere and HBO release

    The George Clooney-produced documentary Surviving Ohio State was scheduled to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival before airing on HBO.

    Policy change Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by NBC4 (WCMH)

  2. Jim Jordan deposed under oath in Strauss lawsuit

    Rep. Jim Jordan gave his first sworn testimony in the federal suits, maintaining he never saw or heard of abuse; former athletic director Andy Geiger was also deposed.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by AP

2026

  1. Ohio State settles with eight more Strauss survivors

    Eight new settlements totaling $800,000 brought Ohio State's total to 304 survivors and more than $60 million.

    Settlement Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Ohio State University

  2. Judge orders former trustee Les Wexner to testify in Strauss case

    A federal judge refused to quash a subpoena and ordered Les Wexner, a former Ohio State board chair, to be deposed about what he knew of Strauss.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by WOSU / WYSO

  3. Judge orders former Ohio State president Gordon Gee to sit for deposition

    A federal judge granted plaintiffs' motion to compel former president E. Gordon Gee to be deposed in the Strauss litigation.

    Lawsuit filed Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Hoodline

  4. Ohio State settles with 13 Strauss survivors for $1.8 million

    New agreements with 13 survivors brought Ohio State's total to 317 survivors and more than $61 million.

    Settlement Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by Ohio State University

  5. Ohio State agrees to roughly $100 million settlement with remaining Strauss plaintiffs

    Ohio State trustees approved a preliminary agreement of about $100 million with all but one of 280 survivors still in litigation.

    Settlement Ohio State UniversityUnited States, OhioReported by CBS News / AP