Larry Nassar Abuse Case: Survivors Reach Settlement Worth $380 Million

Larry Nassar settlement in abuse case: The survivors of Larry Nassar abuse case have agreed to a $380 million settlement with US Gymnastics and The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. The settlement is the largest ever to be reached in a sexual abuse case.

The settlement amount would compensate more than 500 abuse survivors, including Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, and Aly Raisman- who had all come forward with allegations of sexual abuse at hands of Nassar- a former US national gymnastics team doctor.

Many of these survivors had to go through mental issues which included depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and some of the women allegedly tried to end their lives. The money received will be divided among the survivors after considering the above factors as well as the length, time and severity of the abuse.

Rachel Denhollder, who was the first-ever athlete to publicly accuse Larry Nassar of sexual abuse, reacted to the settlement saying, “No amount of money will ever repair the damage that has been done and what these women have been through. But at some point, the negotiations have to end because these women need help — and they need it right now.”

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The monetary compensation is just one provision provided to the survivors. Non-monetary provisions such as seats on Safe Sport Committee, Athlete Health, and Wellness Council have also been offered to the survivors.

"Individually and collectively, survivors have stepped forward with bravery to advocate for enduring change in this sport," USA Gymnastics president Li Li Leung said in a statement after the settlement was approved. "We are committed to working with them, and with the entire gymnastics community, to ensure that we continue to prioritize the safety, health and wellness of our athletes and community above all else."

About Larry Nassar case

In 2016, former gymnast Rachel Denhollder came forward to accuse Larry Nassar of sexual abuse publicly. In a court testimony later, she further revealed that Nassar had abused her five times in the year 2000. She was just 15 at that time. Following Denhollder's allegations many other prominent US gymnasts, such as McKayla Maroney, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Maggie Nichols too came forward with accusations of accuse against Nassar.

Four of these athletes also accused US Federal Bureau of Investigation of mishandling the investigation of this case. After being arrested in 2016, Nassar was sentenced to more than 300 years in jail, in 2018.

Image Credit: olympicchannel.com