Ohio State University Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Compensation for Victims of Sexual Abuse at OSU

Over 170 former OSU students have alleged sexual misconduct by Richard Strauss, a doctor who preyed on male students and OSU employees. The Ohio State University sexual abuse lawsuits allege that Strauss’s misconduct was an “open secret” and that Ohio State officials refused to protect students from this prolific sexual predator.

Injury Lawyer Team is here to hold institutions and individuals accountable through college sexual abuse lawsuits. Contact us today for a compassionate, confidential, and free consultation about your legal options. 

Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse Against Ohio State University

Though Richard Strauss died by suicide in 2005, Strauss’ victims are still fighting for justice from the sexual harassment and abuse they endured at his hands from the late 1970s to the late 1990s. 

Dr. Richard Strauss was hired at the university in 1978, where he served as an attending physician before working as an athletics doctor between July 1981 and June 1995. He also worked as a part-time doctor in the student health center between July 1994 and August 1996. 

After resigning as a tenured faculty member, Strauss stayed on as an emeritus faculty member before retiring in July 1998. He moved from Columbus to Los Angeles, where he passed away. The Strauss family has never publicly addressed the allegations against him. 

It was only in April 2018, two decades after Strauss’s tenure ended, that male student athletes came forward to allege the respected physician sexually abused them. Worse still, former students claim that the faculty were aware of what was happening and did nothing to stop it. 

The documentary Surviving Ohio State, released in June 2025, highlights how the university’s response to allegations was to dismiss complaints, ignore victims, and protect Strauss from any legal consequences. 

Independent Investigation Proves Richard Strauss Used the University as a Hunting Ground

Former OSU wrestler Mike DiSabato urged the university to take action in April 2018, coming forward with former head coach Russ Hellickson to allege that Congressman Jim Jordan had known about Strauss’s abuse. 

DiSabato claimed that he once went to Strauss’s office for a thumb injury, and Strauss attempted to pull his pants down. He complained to Russ Hellickson and Jim Jordan, who promised to take action. While Hellickson warned Strauss to leave his students alone, Jordan did not respond. 

On May 17, 2019, the law firm Perkins Coie LLP released its independent investigation into Ohio State University’s role in the sexual abuse, which was commissioned by the university. The attorneys identified 177 confirmed Strauss survivors and 38 other students who may have been mistreated by different OSU employees. 

The 232-page document broke the allegations into categories depending on the type of abuse perpetrated. Those groups were as follows:

• During the context of a medical evaluation, Strauss abused the student to the point of or near the point of ejaculation.
• Using the pretense of a medical exam, Strauss abused the student until they had an erection. 
• Strauss fondled or groped the student’s genitals during an exam or conducted unnecessary genital/rectal examinations.
• While conducting a medical exam, Strauss used inappropriate methods, such as refusing to use gloves, touching non-sexual areas of the body, forcing the student to undress, or asking the student to undergo an unnecessary exam in exchange for a doctor’s note.
• Strauss acted in a predatory manner toward students and athletes, such as insisting on showering with them, staring at them while they undressed, or inappropriately fraternizing with students in a way consistent with grooming. 

According to the analysis, most of the students experienced unnecessary groping and fondling or unnecessary genital exams. Of the 177 reports, 153 came from former athletes, showing that Strauss primarily exploited his position as a doctor in the athletics department. 

Governor Mike DeWine then pressured the state medical board to release all its investigations into physician misconduct across the past 25 years. This working group determined that there was a previous investigation launched in July 1997 after finding that Strauss’s authority to provide treatment was suspended by the university. 

Despite this clear warning sign, the investigation went nowhere, as mentioned in the Perkins Coie report. 

Sex Abuse Scandal Involved Jim Jordan, Ohio State Medical Board, and Other Powerful Officials

Former assistant wrestling coach and current Congressman Jim Jordan was forced to confront his role in Strauss’s abuse scandal during a deposition in July 2025. Jordan is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a strong ally of Donald Trump, making his role all the more concerning.

The court case, handled in the Southern District of Ohio, does not name Jordan as a defendant, but he has been referred to in several of the lawsuits. These allege that Jordan was aware of Strauss’s conduct against male athletes but refused to intervene.

In July 2018, three former OSU wrestlers told NBC News that Jordan lied when he claimed he was unaware of the complaints. One noted that Jordan had threatened Strauss in the locker room, saying he would “kill him” if Strauss said anything. 

DiSabato reached out to Jordan before approaching OSU, telling him of his plans to go public. According to DiSabato, Jordan asked him to leave him out of it and refused to cooperate. He also ignored attorneys’ requests to speak with him about the matter, despite publicly claiming he would help. 

The Ohio State University released a federally required report in 2020 that noted 2,201 instances of fondling and 127 cases of rape attributed to Strauss, all reported between 2018 and 2019. 

Richard Strauss Survivors Sue in Snyder-Hill v. The Ohio State University

The court cases Snyder-Hill v. The Ohio State University and Moxley v. The Ohio State University represented more than 200 survivors. Among its claims was that OSU employees knew that Strauss was assaulting students and allowed him to abuse his position of authority for sexual gratification. OSU destroyed the medical records of victims rather than acknowledge the abuse.

Rather than taking accountability, the Ohio State University attempted to have the cases dismissed based on statutory limitations. The district court agreed, but the Sixth Circuit reversed this decision in favor of the survivors.

The university then submitted a writ of certiorari to the US Supreme Court in hopes of having the verdict overturned, which was denied in June 2023. 

As of now, there are 107 active plaintiffs in the case awaiting compensation. When Surviving Ohio State was released, OSU released a statement expressing remorse for the abuse endured over 25 years ago, but stressed that Strauss’s conduct does not represent their current institutional policies. 

This, combined with their aggressive attempts to dismiss lawsuits, demonstrates their refusal to take accountability for hiring and protecting a sexual predator across two decades. 

Who Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Misconduct at Universities?

Though Strauss himself is deceased, many defendants can still be pursued for their misconduct and negligence. Our attorneys will carefully review your case to identify all liable parties and ensure that they are held accountable.

• OSU Employees and Officials: As was evident in depositions, fellow employees like Jim Jordan knew about the abuse, either because students explicitly told them or because it was an “open secret” around campus. They can be held liable for failing to protect athletes or report their concerns.
• The Ohio State University: As a public university, OSU is required to comply with both state and federal laws regarding gender-based harassment and discrimination, called Title IX. Refusing to investigate misconduct is a violation of Title IX. 
• Ohio Department of Higher Education: The Department of Higher Education manages public universities throughout the state, including ensuring compliance with laws and accrediting programs. Concerning systemic abuse of OSU students should have triggered an immediate investigation and penalties, such as revoking accreditations or demanding Strauss’s removal from the premises. Refusing to assist students could make the department liable. 
• State Medical Board of Ohio: As a physician, Strauss was licensed by the state to practice medicine and should have had his license revoked for this extreme abuse of power. However, the medical board failed to intervene in a timely manner and continued to let Strauss practice medicine despite numerous complaints from his patients. 

What Laws Govern School Sexual Misconduct in Ohio?

Firstly, understanding the definitions of sexual offenses provides vital context for filing a civil sexual abuse lawsuit against a college or university. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2907 outlines the specific offenses, which include rape, sexual battery, sexual imposition, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and voyeurism.

By law, survivors cannot be forced to pay for sexual assault exams, and their insurance cannot be billed. Instead, the money for forensic sexual assault exams will be paid from a reparations fund (R.C. § 2907.28). 

If an OSU patient files a complaint, it must be referred to the Chair of the Practitioner Evaluation Committee, who can then order an informal or formal peer review. Cases that involve gross misconduct or that violate state law must involve a formal peer review (3335-43-05). 

Any actions that endanger patient safety, such as sexual assault, should be subject to a summary suspension, while being found guilty of any felony would substitute an automatic suspension (3335-43-05). All staff have the responsibility of reporting concerns to their supervisors for review (3335-43-05). 

Any educational institution that receives federal funding must comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex-based discrimination and harassment. Institutions are required to create, implement, and enforce anti-discrimination processes and to report Title IX violations to the government. If they fail to do so, they can face penalties. 

What Damages Can Victims Recover in Civil Lawsuits?

Our attorneys will push for the highest possible damages in a sexual abuse lawsuit against a school, depending on the available evidence, severity, and duration of abuse, and liability. Potential damages can include the following:

• Medical bills
• Future medical treatment
• Lost income
• Loss of future income
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of normal life

How Long Do Survivors Have to Take Legal Action?

Survivors under the age of 18 have 12 years after the cause of action accrues (§ 2305.111(C)(1)). The cause of action begins to accrue on the plaintiff’s 18th birthday (§ 2305.111(C)(3)). 

However, if the defendant conceals their involvement, then the statute of limitations is paused until the plaintiff would have reasonably discovered that their injuries were the result of the defendant’s actions (§ 2305.111(C)(1)). 

Except for childhood sexual abuse, the statute of limitations for assault or battery, including sexual assault or battery, is generally one year after the assault or when the plaintiff identifies the perpetrator (§ 2305.111(B) & (C)(1)).

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

OSU has worked to conceal its knowledge of Strauss’s actions, including destroying evidence. However, we will thoroughly investigate your claim and recover documents to prove the university’s knowledge, then aggressively negotiate for maximum compensation. 

Evidence we may recover can include medical records, student reports, and private communications that affirm other employees’ knowledge of the abuse. We can also utilize OSU investigations and other reports to demonstrate that Strauss’s conduct was a systemic failure. 

Witness testimony is often a key element of a court case, but it can also be stressful for clients. We employ a trauma-informed legal approach that prioritizes the survivor’s needs while respecting their privacy. 

For example, we can assist you in filing under a pseudonym and handle all third-party communications, allowing you to focus on your recovery. We have handled thousands of sexual assault cases and can direct you to additional resources to help you heal. 

While many cases settle out of court, our attorneys are members of the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys, renowned for our peerless track record in trial representation. 

Book a Free Consultation

We represent clients in sexual abuse lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win. Contact us today for a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation about pursuing justice for OSU’s failure to protect its athletes from harm. 

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.