The Ohio State University has officially reached a 100-million-dollar settlement with 279 of the 280 former students who accused a campus physician of sexual assault. According to CNN, the university board ratified the deal in the long-standing legal battle on Wednesday, providing a path forward for hundreds of survivors.
The alleged abuse carried out by Richard Strauss reportedly occurred over two decades, starting in 1978 and lasting until he retired in 1998. Strauss was employed by the athletic department and the medical staff during that time. The Columbus Dispatch notes that Strauss treated a wide range of students, reportedly serving both as a team physician for university athletics and as a doctor at the student health center.
The university and a lawyer representing the victims provided a joint statement following the board’s decision. “The mediation and its confidentiality are continuing as the parties work to finalize the details of the settlements, and additional information will be shared as appropriate,” they stated.
It was an Investigative report that reportedly kicked off everything
This settlement represents the most recent chapter in a story that saw more than 500 plaintiffs file lawsuits against the school. These plaintiffs reportedly argued that the university displayed deliberate indifference toward the abuse they suffered under the guise of medical examinations. These exams allegedly often included the fondling or groping of students’ genitals.
Per CNN, a 2019 investigative report brought the severity of the situation to light. It concluded that at least 177 male students were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Strauss. The report also stated that university staff members were allegedly aware of the behavior as early as 1979.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, despite this knowledge, the report indicated that staff failed to take appropriate action. For nearly two decades, these reports did not move beyond the athletic department or the student health center. It was not until 1996 that Strauss was removed from those specific roles through disciplinary action.
Even after that disciplinary action, Strauss remained a tenured professor in the school of public health. During this period, he opened a private, off-campus clinic for men where he continued to allegedly sexually abuse students. He eventually retired from the university on March 1, 1998, and was granted emeritus status. This status remained in place until he died by suicide in 2005. Unfortunately, he passed away before any charges were brought against him.
The situation began to receive widespread public scrutiny in 2018 when former wrestler Michael DiSabato came forward to share his experience of abuse. This public revelation was the catalyst for the university to initiate an investigation. Since that initial report, the number of people coming forward has grown steadily.
On May 14, retired Columbus fire chief Jeffrey Happ disclosed that he was also allegedly a victim of Strauss while he was a student athlete at Bishop Ready High School. This was a notable development because it marked the first allegation placing Strauss in a high school setting.
According to Happ, Strauss conducted a body fat study paid for by Ohio State, which provided him with access to students at various high schools throughout central Ohio. Since Happ shared his story, other first responders have come forward with similar accounts of abuse.
In February, CNN reports that the university reached eight additional settlements. This brought the total number of survivors involved in compensation agreements to 304 and the total payout to more than 60 million dollars before this latest 100 million dollar deal.
In 2025, George Clooney produced a documentary titled Surviving Ohio State on the streaming service HBO MAX. The film focuses on the history of the abuse and the university’s failure to protect its students.
Two other true crime stories that ended up with their own streaming features were the story of a Department of Defense teacher who was found dead at the base of the stairs, and the story of a couple who approached a church to shoot a documentary and uncovered a child sex abuse ring.
Published: Jun 5, 2026 05:00 pm