The University of Michigan has reached a settlement agreement with attorneys for about 1,050 people who say they were abused by the late Dr. Robert Anderson, a former university physician, UM announced Wednesday.
The settlement agreement includes $ 460 million for the roughly 1,050 claimants and $ 30 million for future claimants. But it must be agreed upon by 98% of the claimants and must be approved by the University of Michigan Board of Regents and the court.
The university said it will have no role in how the money would be distributed among the claimants.
安德森, who worked at the university from 1966 至 2003, has been accused of sexual assault against hundreds of students, including a two-time Super Bowl champion and former world-class wrestler. Anderson died in 2008.
“This agreement is a critical step among many the university has taken to improve support for survivors and more effectively prevent and address misconduct,” University of Michigan interim President Mary Sue Coleman said in a statement provided to CNN.
Anderson first served as a university health services doctor and was moved to the athletic department in 1981 后 “credible reports of misconduct” were relayed to the then Assistant Vice President of Student Services Thomas Easthope in late 1978 要么 1979, according to a 240-page report released in March 2021.
In an interview with the report’s authors and in sworn testimony, Easthope told investigators that he was aware of allegations against Anderson at the time. 根据报告, Easthope “claimed to have confronted Dr. Anderson and fired him.”
“But Mr. Easthope did not do so,” 报告说. Easthope died in February 2021.
The allegations at the University of Michigan resemble those against Larry Nassar at Michigan State University and Richard Strauss at Ohio State University — doctors who abused their trusted positions to sexually abuse college students and athletes.
“We hope this settlement will begin the healing process for survivors,” said Jordan Acker, chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents.
“同时, the work that began two years ago, when the first brave survivors came forward, will continue.”
