USC

$215M Settlement Proposed in Case of Ex-USC Gynecologist Accused of Sexually Abusing Hundreds of Students at Campus Clinic

The announcement comes a day after nearly 100 women who contend that they were sexually harassed or abused by Dr. George Tyndall

What to Know

  • The proposal does not involve the bulk of the former students who said they were sexually assaulted by Dr. George Tyndall
  • About 500 current and former students have made accusations against the former campus gynecologist
  • Complaints reportedly go back as far as 1988

A partial settlement has been proposed in a class action case to compensate students who received women's health services from a former USC campus gynecologist accused by hundreds of women of sexual abuse.

The proposed $215 million settlement involves plaintiffs with an out-of-state law firm that filed a class action case and does not involve the bulk of the former students who said they were sexually assaulted by Dr. George Tyndall, according to attorneys on the case. 

NBC4 is attempting to contact attorneys who have brought lawsuits on behalf of former patients for comment.

The proposal, subject to a judge's approval, would provide about $2,500 to every student who saw Tyndall at the campus clinic and up to $250,000 to those who alleged they were abused by him, according to a statement from the school.

"By doing so, we hope that we can help our community move collectively toward reconciliation," Dr. Wanda Austin, USC’s interim president, said in a letter to the campus community.

Austin also said the USC Board of Trustees supports the proposal. If it's approved by a court, class action case members would receive a notice of what their options are under the settlement. 

The announcement comes a day after nearly 100 women who contend that they were sexually harassed or abused by Tyndall said they are suing the school, contending it ignored decades of complaints.

About 500 current and former students have made accusations against Tyndall. They contend he routinely made crude comments, took inappropriate photographs and forced plaintiffs to strip naked and groped them under the guise of medical treatment.

Complaints reportedly go back as far as 1988.

In a statement regarding the latest lawsuits, USC said it was aware of the lawsuits and will seek "a prompt and fair resolution that is respectful of our former students."

Tyndall spent about three decades as a USC staff gynecologist before retiring last year after a USC investigation concluded that there was evidence that Tyndall sexually harassed students during physical examinations.

Tyndall has denied the allegations and has not been charged with a crime. USC has denied accusations of a cover-up.

In August, USC President C. L. Max Nikias stepped down in the wake of the criticism arising from the sex-abuse allegations.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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