National March 25, 2018

WSJ: Nassar Settlements Big Trouble For Michigan State

LANSING, MI - JANUARY 17: Larry Nassar appears in court to listen to victim impact statements during his sentencing hearing after being accused of molesting more than 100 girls while he was a physician for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University where he had his sports-medicine practice on January 17, 2018 in Lansing, Michigan. Nassar has pleaded guilty in Ingham County, Michigan, to sexually assaulting seven girls, but the judge is allowing all his accusers to speak. Nassar is currently serving a 60-year sentence in federal prison for possession of child pornography. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

It could cost Michigan State University half a billion dollars in legal settlements and lawyer expenses because of Dr. Larry Nassar. USA Gymnastics and Michigan State employed Nassar when he abused hundreds of young athletes. Last year Nassar pleaded guilty to “federal child-pornography and state sexual-abuse charges and is serving a 60-year federal prison sentence,” according to The Wall St. Journal.

But now comes the settlements, and with more than 250 victims, the cost could be financially devastating to Michigan State.

According to the Journal:

“Interim President John Engler, a former Michigan governor, has said increased tuition is one possible way to cover the costs, and warned that consequences could be even more dire.”
“I don’t know if it would force bankruptcy (for the university) or not,” Mr. Engler said in a Michigan State Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing earlier this month. “I hope not.”

Hundreds of settlements, an army of lawyers and possible government fines could cost Michigan State University upwards of $500 million https://t.co/eQSHzOEquP

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 25, 2018

At Penn St. University, legal costs associated with sex abuse involving former football coach Jerry Sandusky and 33 people has totaled more than $250 million.