Shepard O'Donnell

$100 million settlement for victims in school doctor sexual abuse case

Ohio State University has reached a $100 million settlement with hundreds of former students, mostly athletes, who were sexually abused or r***d by university athletic physician Richard Strauss. The most shocking detail? An unsealed report reveals that university administrators and employees had knowledge or awareness of the abuse while Strauss was practicing at the school from 1978–1998.

Systemic failure is not an excuse. We continue to stand with survivors who are fighting to bring these truths to light.

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New deposition released as Strauss survivors, Ohio State enter settlement talks COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Less than a week after Ohio State settled lawsuits with all but one of the survivors of university physician Richard Strauss’ sexual abuse, another deposition wa…

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From private coaching to elite summer camps, the drive to gain a competitive edge often begins early. However, these activities can place kids in unsupervised or semi-supervised settings with adult trainers and coaches who are often relative strangers, putting them at risk for abuse. Read more on signs to look for and how to keep your child safe in our latest blog: https://buff.ly/4BJ9Iog

How to Protect Your Child Athlete From Abuse This Summer Child abuse in sports can take many forms. Having proactive conversations with your child about what constitutes abuse and what to do if they encounter it can not only help prevent harm but also…

US military veterans exposed to asbestos during their service may be eligible for compensation.

High-risk roles include Machinist Mates, Firemen, Aviation Technicians, Seabees, and more. If you or a loved one served in these capacities, contact us today to learn about your options or visit our website for a list of Navy ships with known instances of asbestos exposure.

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Cases of school sexual abuse are rarely about a single inappropriate act. They often expose systemic institutional failures, unchecked misconduct, and patterns of grooming and abuse of authority.

Advocates argue that gaps in Massachusetts law compound these institutional failures. When the victim is a younger child, sexual abuse falls clearly within existing criminal statutes. Cases involving 16- or 17-year-old students, however, can be more complicated under Massachusetts law because the state’s legal age of consent is 16.

When a student is the victim of sexual abuse by someone in a position of authority, the inherent imbalance of power makes it much more difficult to come forward. No matter what the law says about the age of consent, sexual abuse and exploitation by teachers, coaches, counselors, or other authority figures is never acceptable.

We fight for victims and continue to advocate for change.

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Q: How can survivors of psychiatric facility abuse get help?

A: Survivors should seek trauma-informed support from licensed therapists, survivor advocacy groups, and law firms that specialize in residential treatment facility sexual abuse cases. Coming forward can help prevent further harm and hold negligent facilities accountable.

Contact us to review your options. https://buff.ly/Q5hdqfj