Victims of Larry Nassar conclude a compensation agreement with American sports authorities

The hundreds of victims will receive $ 380 million. Sentenced in 2017 and 2018, the former Physician of the American Gymnastics Women’s Team serves a life sentence.

Le Monde with AFP

The victims of the former Physician of the American Gymnastics Team, Larry Nassar, will receive $ 380 million after an agreement with the Federation (US Gymnastics), the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC ) and their insurers. This Agreement , confirmed at a hearing in front of a Federal Court of Bankruptcy in Indianapolis (Indiana), comes to end a five-year legal battle.

Larry Nassar, 58, purges a life sentence for life after being heavily sentenced in 2017 and 2018 for sexual assault on more than 250 gymnasts, mostly minor, committed for more than two decades when he worked For USA Gymnastics, at the Michigan State University and a gym club.

Compensation that will be paid is one of the most important ever granted to victims of sexual assault, after that of $ 500 million that is committed to resolving the Michigan State University in 2018 , according to the terms of a compensation agreement concluded with more than 300 victims.

Possible prosecution against the FBI

“This historical agreement closes another chapter of the Larry Nassar scandal. The survivors have now received a total of $ 880 million in compensation for their pain and suffering in the hands of this monster, with institutions that have it let go, “reacted John C. Manly, senior lawyer representing the victims.

“There is still a chapter to write, that of criminal prosecutions against FBI agents who have not investigated and have not arrested Nassar, as well as members of US Gymnastics and the USOPC who conspired With them to hinder the investigation, “concluded Mr. Manly.

This Chapter is Finally Closed.
Now The Hard Work of Reform and Rebuilding CAN Begin. Whether gold not justice comes … https://t.co/dx9n40nm6r

– r_denhollander (@rachael denhollander)

Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accused Mr. Nassar in 2016, has welcomed this agreement. “This chapter is finally closed. Now, the hard work of reform and reconstruction can begin. That justice be done or not and that a change is operated depends on what will happen next.”

Much more famous, the Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney testified during a hearing in the Senate in September. They had not only described the aggression suffered, but also criticized to the officials of US Gymnastics, the USOPC and the Federal Police (FBI) their inaction to prevent the sexual assault committed by the former doctor. The Federation filed the balance sheet in 2018, drowned under a large number of legal actions brought by the victims of Larry Nassar.

The Monday Agreement could be concluded after the TIG insurance company agreed to pay a “substantial share” of compensation. The agreement includes a payment of $ 34 million directly from the USOPC, as well as a USOPC $ 6 million loan at USA Gymnastics. Finally, under the agreement, a victim of these sexual assault will be appointed to the Board of Directors of USA Gymnastics.

/Media reports.