Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
USC Agrees To $852 Million Settlement Against Former Campus Gynecologist
Audry Nafziger, a 1992 USC law school graduate, said during a press conference Thursday that she was abused by former campus gynecologist George Tyndall. (Screenshot from Facebook)
()
University of Southern California officials said on Thursday that its board of trustees has agreed to pay 710 women a combined $852 million to settle their allegations of abuse against USC’s former campus gynecologist.
“I am deeply sorry for the pain experienced by these valued members of the USC community,” said USC President Carol Folt in an emailed statement. “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.”
An investigation by the LA Times in 2018 was the first to publicly detail accusations from current and former students that Tyndall touched their genitals unnecessarily, and made sexist and derogatory comments during exams. Hundreds of women came forward soon after with similar accusations.
Support for LAist comes from
“I was shaken up when I finally got out of that office,” said Allison Rowland at the Los Angeles press conference Thursday announcing the settlement, which was streamed live on Facebook. Rowland said she was abused by Tyndall during an exam while she was a USC student in 1993.
Police arrested Tyndall in 2019 and prosecutors charged him with dozens of felonies. He has pleaded not guilty. The L.A. County District Attorney's office said a hearing in his case is scheduled for Friday.
Another former patient, Lucy Chi, said Thursday that she was abused by Tyndall during an exam around 2014.
“George Tyndall specifically preyed upon Asian women,” Chi said. “He paid special attention to me because I was Asian.”
The outcry against USC’s handling of the Tyndall scandal and other recent scandals has led to fiery criticism of the administration from students and faculty. USC President C. L. Max Nikias stepped down in 2018.
“This will no longer be tolerated,” said John Manly, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs. “USC is not the only university with a dirty doctor.”
The settlement dwarfs a $215 million settlement that USC agreed to in 2019 of a class action lawsuit against Tyndall and the university. USC employed Tyndall as a student health center doctor from 1989 to 2016. The lawsuits allege USC knew of complaints against Tyndall at various times during his 26 years employed by USC, but did not act until 2016, when he was put on leave after a nurse told administrators of Tyndall’s behavior.
Support for LAist comes from
READ MORE:
- USC President Resigns After Tyndall Scandal
- USC Students Investigate Their Own Campus After Tyndall Scandal
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist