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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowUSA Gymnastics could be near the final stages of the legal fallout from the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal.
The Indianapolis-based organization and hundreds of women who say they were abused by the former national team doctor or others affiliated with the national governing body filed a joint $425 million settlement proposal in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday that could put an end to years of litigation.
“After extensive discussions, this plan has been jointly proposed by USA Gymnastics and the Committee, and it is supported by many of the involved insurers,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement. “We anticipate that this plan will be confirmed later this year and greatly appreciate all parties’ efforts to get to this point.”
The proposal was put together by the USA Gymnastics and the committee representing the victims. It still needs to be approved by the victims and any other creditors.
While it’s unclear how much each victim would receive under the proposed agreement, the sum is significantly higher than the $215 million settlement offer USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee put together in February 2020.
Michigan State University, where Nassar worked for decades, agreed in May 2018 to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls who said they were abused by Nassar.
There is a two-step voting process for claimants to determine whether to accept the offer. At least half the claimants who vote have to approve the agreement, and the majority needs to represent at least two-thirds of the monetary value of the settlement.
Victims have been in mediation with USA Gymnastics since the organization filed for bankruptcy in December 2018.
Nassar is serving decades in prison for sexual assault and possession of child pornography in Michigan. Hundreds of athletes have come forward over the last five years saying Nassar abused them under the guise of treatment, including seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles and six-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman.
Votes must be in by Nov. 8, with any written objections to the proposal due by Nov. 19. A confirmation hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8-9.
USA Gymnastics president Li Li Leung expressed optimism during the U.S. Olympic Trials in June that mediation with the victims would be completed by the end of the year.
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From the start of all of this, EVERYONE (and I’m mean everyone – regardless of their position) – employed by the governing body at the time – should have been let go. How else to completely change the culture, accountability and transparency of the organization? It’s encouraging and long overdue that this is coming to an outcome, financially, although it’s clear it will NEVER account for the horrible trauma experienced by every single young woman, teenager or child abused by Larry Nassar and, ultimately, the organization. Thank goodness for the journalists who broke the story and brought this to our attention. But, I will say, too, it goes with the arrogance that exists within the US Olympic Committee and its “leadership”.
Agree 100%. The fact there was one evil SOB is an unfortunate reality in life. The horror is that SO MANY knew about it or heard rumors and nothing was done FOR YEARS!!!