After more than three years of mediation between the Survivors’ Committee, the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), USA Gymnastics (USAG), and insurance carriers for both organizations, a settlement plan for survivors has been approved by the court. Judge Robin L. Moberly of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Indiana, has confirmed a plan that includes a $380 million global settlement and provides for significant commitments from USA Gymnastics for institutional reforms focused on athlete safety and wellness.
The settlement brings legal closure to hundreds of sex abuse survivors including USA Olympic Bronze Medal Gymnast and former USA Gymnastics elite athlete Tasha Schwikert Moser who will be part of the Restorative Justice Task Force to be imposed as a condition of the settlement.
“These powerful institutions enabled Dr. Nassar to thrive and avoid discovery of his crimes,” said Tasha Schwikert Moser. “I am proud of my survivor sisters who showed their strength and stepped up to make this settlement possible. What makes me hopeful this will never happen again is the commitment by USAG and USOPC for institutional reform in the bankruptcy plan.”
According to the bankruptcy plan, a trust for the survivors will be funded by insurers, the USOPC and USA Gymnastics. Compensation will be distributed to survivors in accordance with the allocation schedule developed and approved by the Survivors’ Committee. USAG will formally exit bankruptcy in the coming weeks, after necessary administrative work and the entry of an order by the Court closing the case.
Jesse Creed of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP; attorney Michelle Simpson Tuegel of Simpson Tuegel Law Firm; and Mo Aziz of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto, Aziz and Stoger represent a number of elite gymnast survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of Larry Nassar in California courts.
“The ‘money and medals’ culture promoted by these organizations sacrificed the safety and wellness of their own athletes for far too long,” said Mr, Creed. “Holding USOPC and USAG accountable for their actions and demanding change will have an impact for generations of gymnasts to come.”
USA Gymnastics is represented in the bankruptcy by Catherine L. Steege, Dean N. Panos, Melissa M. Root, and Adam T. Swingle with Jenner & Block LLP.