Washington – Hundreds of female U.S. gymnasts who were sexually assaulted by a Sports Doctor at Michigan State University have reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the school, the University said on Wednesday.
The settlement, reached between 332 victims of Larry Nassar and Michigan State, would cost the school 500 million dollars.
The settlement calls for 425 million dollars to be paid to current claimants and 75 million dollars to be set aside in a trust fund to protect any future claimants.
There are no confidentiality agreements or non-disclosure agreements attached to the settlement.
Some of the women abused by Nassar are star gymnasts, including U.S. Olympic medallists McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles, and have already spoken out.
Attorney James White, who represents dozens of women named in the suit, told the Detroit Free Press the women now have a chance to begin moving forward.
“I don’t think they can ever be made whole, but this is a step in the right direction,’’ he said.
The lawsuit claimed the school failed to protect the gymnasts against the abuse. Some gymnasts said nothing was done to stop it after they complained.
Nassar is serving what amounts to a life sentence.
His criminal case caused a scandal involving Michigan State University and U.S.A Gymnastics.
The settlement announced on Wednesday does not include U.S.A Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic Committee and other parties.
The university’s board of trustees said in a statement it is “truly sorry to all the survivors and their families’’ and said it admired their courage to speak out.