We will never know if a jury would have concluded that Michigan State should have known earlier that athletics department doctor Larry Nassar was a sexual predator and responded accordingly to prevent his continued abuse of university athletes as well as those on the Olympic gymnastics team for whom he also worked. We do know, however, that it was worth $500 million dollars to Michigan State not to have to find out: Today comes news that the university has settled for that amount with the 332 alleged victims who have sued the university and other defendants for damages stemming from the sexual abuse they endured from Nassar. $75 million of that will be placed in trust for victims that haven't yet been identified, while the remainder will be divided among the plaintiffs.
The settlement only affects claims against Michigan State University and individual university defendants. USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic Committee, and other individuals involved with the national team remain parties to the suit. Nassar himself is serving an effective life sentence in prison. He plead guilty to nine counts of assault as well as federal child pornography crimes.
