USC Gynecologist Sexual Abuse Class Action Settlement Receives Final Approval

On February 19, 2020, Judge Stephen V. Wilson of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted final approval to the $215 million settlement between USC and a class of thousands of women who claim they were sexually abused by university doctor George Tyndall between 1989 and 2016. Judge Wilson further ordered the parties to submit a proposed final approval order and judgment.

The settlement, which provides for three tiers of relief for participants depending on how much information they are comfortable providing, is valued as noted at $215 million and will allow the approximately 18,000 women who saw Tyndall during their time at the University of Southern California to receive compensation, regardless of whether they formally accused him of harassment or assault. It also requires USC to take numerous steps to prevent on-campus physicians from abusing student-patients in the future.

“This settlement is the first of its kind,” remarked Lieff Cabraser partner Annika K. Martin, one of the lead attorneys representing former patients. She noted that the lack of any objections from Tyndall’s former patients and the large participation rate were an endorsement of the settlement.

“We tried very hard to get this right,” Martin told The Los Angeles Times. “It’s something that many class members found to be a safe way to stand up and be counted, and hold USC accountable.”

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.