The new lawsuits filed against 54-year-old Larry Nassar, a former MSU and USA Gymnastics physician, are worrying Michigan State University, as it grapples to pay the $500 million settlement to his victims.
According to a motion filed on August 17 at U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, the school is seeking the court intervention in putting a stay on new lawsuits.
“Although many of the new lawsuits are subject to legal defenses–including governmental immunity, the failure to follow statutory notice of intent requirements, applicable statutes of limitations, lack of standing, and other pleading deficiencies–allowing MSU sufficient time to examine and potentially resolve these cases without protracted litigation is in the best interests of all parties and the Court,” the court motion says.
“If a stay is granted, MSU will work with any cooperating plaintiffs to conduct a good-faith assessment of all new Nassar-related lawsuits filed with this Court on or before September 10, 2018,” the motion adds.
In May, the university agreed to settle the lawsuit by paying $500 million to 332 victims of sexual abuse by Nassar, who was sentenced to 40-175 years in prison after he was found guilty of three child pornography charges and 10 sexual assault charges.
He was serving his sentence at the United States Penitentiary in Tuscon, Arizona from where he was moved on Monday to another prison in Oklahoma City after his claims last month of assault by the fellow prisoners.
On Thursday, a special independent counsel appointed by the state announced the filing of charges against Kathie Klages, a former gymnastics coach for lying to police in Nassar’s abuse case.