U.S.C. Paying $1.1B to Patients of Gynecologist in Alleged Abuse Cases

The University of Southern California on Thursday announced a settlement for $852 million, bringing the total to $1.1 billion going to the former patients of a campus gynecologist accused sexually abusing hundreds of patients.

The $1.1 billion sum is a combination of three sets of settlements with the alleged victims of Dr. George Tyndall.

Tyndall, 74, pleaded not guilty last year to six new charges. He has previously pleaded not guilty to dozens of other charges.

Tyndall resigned in 2017 after nearly 30 years with USC. Allegations against him became public in 2018 through an L.A. Times investigation.

A federal judge last year approved a $215 million class-action settlement with thousands of former patients.

“USC and the 710 women who filed civil cases in Los Angeles Superior Court involving George Tyndall have reached a global agreement that is fair and reasonable,” an announcement from the school states. “The $852 million settlement will end this litigation in state court. The USC Board of Trustees has ratified the settlement.”

Separate statements were issued by numerous USC parties.

A statement from USC President Carol L. Folt reads:

“I am deeply sorry for the pain experienced by these valued members of the USC community. We appreciate the courage of all who came forward and hope this much needed resolution provides some relief to the women abused by George Tyndall.”

A FAQ sheet from the school notes that 16,019 claimants in the federal class action received payments, and that any patient who saw Tyndall was eligible to participate in the class action. In the state court litigation, 761 plaintiffs received compensation.

The school said it has taken several measures to try and prevent this sort of thing from happening again:

“We have implemented sweeping institutional reforms to prevent anything like this from happening again. Most importantly, the university introduced a new governance for Student Health under Keck Medicine. We added robust new protections, protocols and oversights and have enhanced safety and wellness. We have established greater accountability with clear checks and balances, we have created new offices and added many more staff with professional expertise.”

Related:

• Judge to Approve $215M Settlement for USC Gynecologist’s Patients
• Arch Insurance Says Policy Doesn’t Cover USC’s $215M Sex Abuse Settlement
• $215M Settlement in USC Doctor Abuse Suit Requires School Reforms

Topics USA South Carolina