More than a dozen former Ohio State University football players, including some who later play in the NFL, agree to join a federal class action lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by former team doctor Richard Strauss. The players are adding to an existing lawsuit filed by other former Ohio State students who say they were abused decades ago while enrolled at the university.
According to reports from U.S. outlets, the group of signatories includes roughly 30 former football players. A lawyer involved in the case says these individuals come forward about eight years after the first lawsuit was filed, expanding the set of plaintiffs pursuing claims against the university. The allegations focus on conduct attributed to Strauss while he worked in an athletic-medical role at Ohio State.
The reporting also frames the move as part of the ongoing litigation process tied to the original federal case, with additional former athletes seeking to be included among the plaintiffs. The university and Strauss are not described in these excerpts beyond the allegations and the mention that the lawsuit targets the school in federal court.
