Larry Nassar Accusers And Their Attorneys Respond To Pleas On State Criminal Charges And Call For Investigation Of MSU Officials
LANSING, Mich., Nov. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys representing more than 100 women who have accused former MSU and USA Gymnastics Olympic Team doctor Larry Nassar and their clients responded emotionally to Nassar's guilty plea on seven first degree sexual conduct charges in Ingham County Circuit Court today.
"It was empowering and healing to hear Nassar stop his lies and admit that he sexually abused me and many other women. I hope that he will spend the rest of his life in prison and that his victims will live long, free, happy and productive lives," said Rachel Denhollander, the woman whose charges against Nassar led to his prosecution by the Michigan Attorney General.
At a news conference attended by Ms. Denhollander, Lindsey Lemke, Kaylee Lorincz their attorneys praised the courage of their clients in coming forward to authorities and speaking to the public about the abuse they suffered at his hands.
"In the days before "#MeToo," these women were "Me First." Their courage ended Nassar's alleged two-decade long molestation of girls and saved countless other women from being assaulted," said Oskimos attorney James White.
The attorneys turned their fire on Michigan State University accusing the University of attempting to cover-up the largest sexual abuse scandal in US history.
"MSU and its administrators could have prevented the Nassar scandal if they had simply followed Title IX and the mandatory reporting laws. They ignored complaints of his misconduct going back to 1997. When they finally conducted a Title IX investigation of Nassar in 2014, they botched it and allowed him to continue allegedly molesting dozens of women and girls for two more years, including Team USA gymnasts," said Grand Rapids attorney Stephen Drew.
According to published reports, MSU has paid the New York law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom more than one million dollars to conduct an internal review of the Nassar scandal. The University's refusal to make the results of this review public stands in stark contrast to the actions taken by Penn State University in response to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal in 2012.
"MSU's total lack of transparency and their continuing cover-up of misconduct by University administrators and staff has placed a dark cloud over Michigan State that can only be lifted by the sunshine of truth. MSU President, Lou Anna K. Simon, should make this report public immediately or she should resign. A truly independent investigation is needed immediately of those at MSU who knew of Nassar's conduct and failed to take action to protect children will never be held accountable," said victim's attorney John Manly.
Manly, Stewart & Finaldi is California's leading law firm representing child victims of sexual abuse. The firm has represented more than 150 victims of clergy sexual abuse in California and hundreds of others throughout the United States. The firm also represented plaintiffs in the $140,000,000 settlement against LAUSD in the Miramonte case, the largest sex abuse settlement against a School District in the US.
Drew, Cooper & Anding is a Lansing Michigan based law firm specializing in personal injury, sexual harassment, police misconduct, employment discrimination, consumer protection, and complex commercial litigation.
Click here for video of news conference.
SOURCE Manly, Stewart & Finaldi
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