Outrage Grows as USC Tyndall Doctor Sex Abuse Scandal Widens

Widespread media attention and public awareness are growing in the wake of the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of women who were patients of gynecologist George Tyndall, M.D. as students at the University of Southern California (“USC”).

While attending USC as students, these women were allegedly sexually abused, harassed and molested during examinations by Dr. Tyndall, who the women claim used his position of trust and authority to repeatedly take advantage of his female patients. USC has now admitted that it received numerous complaints of Tyndall’s sexually abusive behavior, dating back to at least the year 2000, and effectively concealed Tyndall’s inappropriate behavior for years.

Here’s what just a few national media outlets are reporting:

• Why Wasn’t Dr. George Tyndall Reported to Authorities By Anyone at USC? – Los Angeles Times

  College administrators should learn that crimes (even suspected crimes) committed inside campus walls are also considered crimes outside of those walls. Therefore, it is the teacher or administrator’s duty and responsibility to notify proper authorities of criminal matters due to school norm violations. “That means that any administrator who knew about USC gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall’s behavior before he stopped seeing patients may be subject to a fine or jail time in accordance with state law,” the Los Angeles Times notes.

• First Female Dean ‘A Sea Of Change’ At USC’s Scandal-Plagued Medical School – Washington Post

  The University of Southern California has named its first woman and geriatrician to lead its 130-plus year-old med school. Dr. Laura Mosqueda, who began work in the position on May 1, faces the formidable challenge of rehabilitating USC’s image after the explosion of the Dr. George Tyndall sexual misconduct scandal. The Washington Post reports, “Mosqueda’s appointment is partly the result of USC’s #MeToo moment. It sends an unmistakable message that campus officials want to open a new chapter after the sobering revelations that toppled Moscqueda’s two immediate predecessors and the university’s president – all men.”

• USC Case Underscores Why Universities So Often Fail At Handling Sexual Assault – Feministing

  “We forget that universities function like corporations. We forget that they, like any big business, are susceptible to deeply problematic moral shortcomings and dehumanizing practices. We forget that the same campuses that are home to cultural awakenings, radical discourse, and justice movements are also home to administrators that systematically cover up prevalent sexual abuse, assault, and misconduct – just like the large entertainment companies we hear about so regularly in the #MeToo news cycle.”

• Education Department Investigating USC’s Handling Of Sexual Harassment Allegations – NPR

  The Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education has announced an investigation into USC’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall. In a statement, the office said that it will look into how USC responded to “reports and complaints of sexual harassment during pelvic exams as early as 1990 that were not fully investigated by the University until spring 2016 and that the University did not disclose to OCR during an earlier investigation.”

• Feds Probe USC Over Handling of Sex Harassment Allegations – New York Times

  The federal government has now become involved in the USC Dr. Tyndall sexual abuse scandal. Among other things, the agency is looking into possible violations of Title IX, a federal civil rights program that requires schools to properly handle reports of sexual harassment and violence. If evidence of misconduct is discovered, the Department of Education can impose fines and potentially cut off USC’s access to future funding from the federal government.

• USC Students March on Campus Over Sexual-Misconduct Scandal – Los Angeles Times

  Current and former students gathered on USC’s campus for a march in protest of officials’ handling of sexual misconduct allegations against former university gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall. The crowd of mostly women assembled outside the Engemann Student Health Center in a coordinated and well-attended march towards the center of the campus south of downtown to increase awareness of the scandal and its effect on what may well be multiple hundreds of women.

• Bill To End Silence About Doctor Sexual Assault and Other Patient Harm Advances, Says Consumer Watchdog – PR Newswire

  Legislation has passed on the Patient Right to Know Act, by Senator Jerry Hill and co-authored by Business & Professions Committee Chair Assembly member Evan Low. This act would require a doctor on probation (whether it be by sexual misconduct with a patient, overprescribing, criminal convictions, or drug and alcohol use) to disclose this fact to patients before conducting an appointment.

Charges Against Tyndall and USC

The suit has been filed against Dr. Tyndall and USC over charges including gender violence, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual harassment, negligence, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent failure to warn, train, or educate, and wanton and reckless conduct relating to the gynecological medical treatment received by the Plaintiff and the class while they were students at USC. Learn more about the USC and Dr. George Tyndall Gender Violence and Sexual Abuse Class Action.

Contact Sexual Abuse Lawyer Annika K. Martin at Lieff Cabraser

Lieff Cabraser partner Annika K. Martin, herself an alumnus of USC’s law school, is leading the litigation for our firm on behalf of women who suffered violence, abuse, and harassment by George Tyndall and USC. She is a partner in the firm’s New York office and has represented plaintiffs since 2005 in environmental, mass tort, consumer protection, and sexual abuse cases. She can be reached at akmartin@lchb.com or 800-541-7358. There is no charge or obligation for your outreach, and all information will be held in the strictest confidence.