WASHINGTON – The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a US$138.7 million (S$189 million) civil settlement with hundreds of victims of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who is serving time in prison for sexually abusing athletes under his care, the agency said on April 23.
The far-reaching settlement resolves 139 claims that the FBI botched the initial investigation into Nassar, the DOJ said.
Specifically, the FBI failed to promptly investigate allegations that would ultimately lead to a horrifying conclusion – Nassar had sexually assaulted women and girls under the guise of examinations and treatment.
“These allegations should have been taken seriously from the outset,” acting Associate Attorney-General Benjamin Mizer said in a statement.
“While these settlements won’t undo the harm Nassar inflicted, our hope is that they will help give the victims of his crimes some of the critical support they need to continue healing.”
Nassar, the main doctor for Olympic gymnasts for 18 years, was sentenced in federal court in 2017 to 60 years in prison on charges of possessing child sex abuse material.
The following year, he was sentenced to up to 175 years and up to 125 years, respectively, in two separate Michigan courts for molesting female gymnasts under his care.
The 60-year-old was stabbed multiple times by an inmate in July. He suffered a collapsed lung but survived.
US Olympic gold medallists Simone Biles and McKayla Maroney were among the victims who publicly criticised the FBI over its handling of the probe.
The settlement likely signals the end of a years-long effort by the gymnasts to achieve a measure of justice in the courtroom. But it also reflects public recognition that the institutions entrusted to protect young female athletes failed to protect them.
Lawyers for the young women hailed the settlement, which brings total civil payouts associated with Nassar to about US$1 billion.
But they cast the government’s monetary compensation for its early reluctance to fully investigate Nassar as a case of too little, too late.
“These women were assaulted because of the FBI’s failure, and there is no amount of money that will make them whole again,” said Mick Grewal, a lawyer for 44 of the claimants, including one who died by suicide.
“Their goal with all this was to make sure that this never happens again.”
The broad outlines of the agreement were reached in late 2023. Lawyers on both sides have spent months determining the specific payouts, which vary based on the abuse claims but amount to around US$1 million per woman or girl, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
The settlement comes 2½ years after senior FBI officials publicly admitted that agents had failed to take quick action when US national team athletes complained about Nassar to the bureau’s Indianapolis field office in 2015.
In 2018, Michigan State University, which employed Nassar, paid more than US$500 million into a victim compensation fund, believed to be the largest settlement by a university in a sexual abuse case.
Three years later, USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee reached a US$380 million settlement for the victims. NYTIMES, AFP, REUTERS
