COLUMBUS, Ohio (WLIO) — The Ohio State University is seeking to dismiss about one-third of the remaining lawsuits connected to allegations of sexual abuse by former university doctor Richard Strauss.
Ohio Attorney General David Yost filed the motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on behalf of the university.
The motion argues that 43 claims should be dismissed entirely because the alleged offenses occurred before Oct. 21, 1986. According to the filing, that is the date Congress enacted a law allowing states and educational institutions to be sued for failing to take steps to prevent sexual abuse of students.
The filing also states that another 34 claims could be partially dismissed because the alleged abuse began before the 1986 date but continued afterward.
A university spokesman said 317 Strauss victims have reached settlement agreements totaling $61 million.
Strauss worked at Ohio State from 1978 to 1998 and died by suicide in 2005.
