The University of Michigan has reached a $490 million settlement with approximately 1,050 sexual abuse victims of an athletic doctor who worked at the school between 1966 and 2003.
The deal settles multiple lawsuits brought against the university by former athletes, mostly male, who came forward with allegations that the late Robert Anderson touched them inappropriately during routine examinations, the school announced Wednesday. Anderson, who died in 2008, worked as the director of the university’s health services and as the physician for several sports teams during his 37-year career.
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The University of Michigan said in an emailed statement that $460 million would be given to the claimants and their attorneys to divide among themselves, while $30 million would be held for future claimants.
“We hope this settlement will begin the healing process for survivors,” said Jordan Acker, the chairman of the University of Michigan Board of Regents. “At the same time, the work that began two years ago, when the first brave survivors came forward, will continue.”
There were scattered complaints about Anderson throughout his years of employment at the university. Tad DeLuca, a member of the wrestling team, sent a letter to the coach and head of athletics in 1975 that said “something is wrong with Dr. Anderson” and “regardless of what you go in there for, he always makes you drop your drawers.” There were jokes among athletes that someone going to Anderson for an elbow injury would receive a genital exam.
DeLuca was one of the first whistleblowers to come forward, saying that he was kicked out of the wrestling team and lost his scholarship for his 1975 letter. He wrote another letter in 2018, which started the investigation culminating in the settlement.
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“This agreement is a critical step among many the university has taken to improve support for survivors and more effectively prevent and address misconduct,” said University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman.
Coleman took over as president Saturday after her predecessor, Mark Schlissel, was fired Saturday amid emails revealing that he allegedly had an “inappropriate relationship with a University employee.”
