The University of Southern California has agreed to pay more than $ 1 billion in damages to those who accused former gynecologist George Tyndall’s health center student of repeated sexual assaults on female patients.
The Los Angeles Superior Court approved a settlement on Thursday that would give 710 women who would have been abused by Tyndall a $ 852 million settlement. This adds up to a $ 215 million deal that received final approval last year as part of a different federal class action.
Tyndall was arrested and charged in 2019 with 18 counts of sexual penetration and 11 counts of sexual assault for fraud in cases involving several young women. Prosecutors also accused him of five counts of sexual penetration by an unconscious person and one of sexual assault for fraud last year.
Tyndall has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his trial is still pending.
Audry Nafziger described himself as one of Tyndall’s first victims during a news conference on Thursday, saying he saw Tyndall for the first time in 1990, when he was young and had no previous experience with a gynecologist.
“I thought it was strange, but what did I know?” Nafziger said. “When he took his camera to take pictures of me and asked me to participate in those pictures, well, what did I know? … I trusted him.”
Nafzinger, now a sex offender, said the alleged misconduct had totally changed her life, from her lack of confidence in doctors to the way she looked, Nafzinger said.
Another accuser, Christy Leach, said that Tyndall knew that, behind the closed door of his exam room, he could do “whatever he wanted” to her. Leach commented on how promising financial arrangements for survivors often look, but they must also be weighed against the long and expensive mental health care needed for recovery.
“As a survivor who presents, it is imperative for your healing and mental health that you carefully choose the professionals who will prioritize your well-being,” said Leach. “If you are a survivor of sexual assault, there is healing, hope and justice for you too.”
A retired judge will distribute the settlement funds to women, which will be paid by USC and university insurance.
The alleged assaults between 2009 and 2016, with hundreds of women presenting their own charges against Tyndall, the Los Angeles Police Department had previously said. Some of the alleged assaults are beyond the statute of limitations for criminal actions to be filed.
Detectives found more than 1,000 videos described as “homemade sex tapes” and several sexually explicit photos during a search warrant at Tyndall’s home, although not all were taken through his university job.
An investigation by the Department of Education’s civil rights office found that the USC handled the allegations against Tyndall badly during his employment, which may have allowed the abuse to continue.
USC has agreed to create a centralized record-keeping system to track complaints of misconduct against employees and what actions school officials take in response to complaints, following the findings of the federal investigation.
In a statement released on Thursday, the USC said it was committed to reaching a fair deal for alumni.
“I deeply regret the pain experienced by these valuable members of the USC community,” said USC President Carol L. Folt. of abuse by George Tyndall. “
John Manly, one of the leading lawyers who helped represent more than 700 women in the settlement, characterized the idea that the university was unaware of Tyndall’s alleged abuse, which lasted for decades, as “a damned lie”.
“There are many in the administration and on the board of trustees who do not belong to this university,” said Manly on Thursday after the deal was announced. “Not all, but some … they put the university’s prestige, fundraising and branding ahead of students’ well-being for 30 years.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. The hotline, managed by the National Rape, Abuse and Incest Network (RAINN), can put you in touch with your local rape crisis center. You can also access RAINN’s online chat service at https://www.rainn.org/get-help.