FBI open to settling claims by gymnasts abused by Nassar
The FBI has reached out to attorneys representing Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and other women who say they were sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar to begin settlement talks in the $1 billion claim they brought against the federal government.
Justice Dept. bolsters monitoring of federal inmate accounts
The Justice Department is directing the federal prison system implement new procedures to monitor government-run prison deposit accounts that have at times been used by inmates to shield themselves from paying debts and for suspicious or illegal activity.
Texans QB’s sex assault cases highlight concerns amid #MeToo
Lawyers fighting sexual assault allegations against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson face a predicament: Defending their client means working to discredit the claims of 22 women who are more likely to be believed four years into the #MeToo movement.
Michigan attorney general ends campus probe tied to Nassar
(AP Photo/David Eggert, File)LANSING, Mich. – The investigation of Michigan State University's handling of disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar is over because the university has refused to provide thousands of documents related to the scandal, Michigan’s attorney general said Friday. Dana Nessel's announcement came after the university said it would not change its position that the documents are protected by attorney-client privilege. “The university’s refusal to voluntarily provide them closes the last door available to finish our investigation,” Nessel, a Democrat, said. Nassar was a campus doctor who is now serving decades in prison for sexual assault and child pornography crimes. Former gymnastics coach Kathie Klages was convicted of lying to investigators when she said she didn't get complaints about Nassar.
USC agrees to $852 million payout in sex abuse lawsuit
The University of Southern California has agreed to an $852 million settlement with more than 700 women who have accused Tyndall, the college's longtime campus gynecologist, of sexual abuse, officials announced Thursday, March 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)LOS ANGELES – The University of Southern California has agreed to an $852 million settlement with more than 700 women who have accused the college’s longtime campus gynecologist of sexual abuse, the victims’ lawyers and USC announced Thursday. Ad“I am deeply sorry for the pain experienced by these valued members of the USC community," USC President Carol L. Folt said in a statement. Separately, USC earlier agreed to pay $215 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that applies to about 18,000 women who were patients of Tyndall’s. The individual payouts to those victims range from $2,500 to $250,000, and were given regardless of whether the women formally accused Tyndall of harassment or assault.
Olympics gymnastics coach kills himself after being charged
FILE - In this March 3, 2012, file photo, gymnastics coach John Geddert is seen at the American Cup gymnastics meet at Madison Square Garden in New York. Prosecutors in Michigan filed charges Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, against Geddert, a former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar. "This is a tragic end to a tragic story for everyone involved," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. Nessel earlier announced that Geddert was charged with a bushel of crimes, including sexual assault, human trafficking and running a criminal enterprise. On his LinkedIn page, Geddert described himself as the “most decorated women’s gymnastics coach in Michigan gymnastics history.” He said his Twistars teams won 130 club championships.
Viral and vital, college gymnasts finding their voice
The social justice movement in college athletics has popped up in most unusual place: gymnastics. From UCLA to Pittsburgh, Black gymnasts and the programs they represent are using their platform to empower and uplift. Her experience at Arkansas was simply reflective of the culture at large in the sport at the time. From Pittsburgh to California, female gymnasts are using their platform to empower, educate and bring light to causes they believe in. “Personally I would say (gymnastics) is a predominantly white sport,” Ward said.
Pilots say they, too, were molested by Univ. of Michigan doc
Some pilots have emerged as victims of Anderson, a deceased doctor who worked for decades at the University of Michigan. (Robert Kalmbach/Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan via AP, File)DETROIT – A cargo pilot who regularly needed health checkups to keep his license contacted a University of Michigan doctor in 2000. He said Anderson told him to undress, put on a medical gown and get on a table, instead of simply checking the man's vision, hearing and heart. AdSince then, another category of victims has emerged: pilots in southeastern Michigan who needed physicals to get or maintain a license. There was no reason to cover this up.”In 2003, five years before his death, Anderson told the government that he was retiring because a stroke had greatly affected his right hand.
11 podcasts you should be listening to
“Space Curious” was created to inspire everyone -- from those with a mild interest in space exploration to the space fanatics. In season two, you’ll learn about Curtis Flowers, a man who has been tried six times for the same crime. You’ll learn about all of that. Podcasts, by the way, are really easy to access -- even if you’re not very tech-savvy. You can typically go to the podcast’s website (which are all linked above), hit “play” on the episode of your choosing, and it’s as simple as that.