US gymnasts want to sue the FBI for a billion dollars
Abuse victims Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman (from left) during their testimony
Which: REUTERS
Larry Nassar abused hundreds of girls as US gymnasts’ doctor. The victims, including world star Simone Biles, received high compensation. Now they are demanding the same from the FBI. The federal agency did not do its job.
MWith world star Simone Biles as the most prominent abuse victim, dozens of gymnasts in the USA are seeking a claim against the FBI for more than one billion US dollars. As the US news agency AP reported on Wednesday, the agency is to pay damages for its failure in the Larry Nassar case. The gymnasts accuse the FBI of not having acted as early as 2015 when the first allegations of sexual abuse by the gymnasts and Michigan State University physician became known.
“If the FBI had just done their job, Nassar could have been stopped before he ever had a chance to molest hundreds of girls including me,” said Samantha Roy, a former University of Michigan gymnast. Referring to the Californian law firm Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, which specializes in cases of sexual abuse, around 90 victims are said to be seeking billions. It was initially unclear whether a lawsuit had already been filed.
The investigation only began in 2016. A total of three sentences were passed against Nassar, with sentences totaling up to 175 years in prison. He had pleaded guilty in the proceedings.
Years of litigation ended in 2021
In November 2021, the Nassar victims were awarded $380 million (€337 million) in compensation by an Indianapolis court. The verdict ended a multi-year legal battle between the US Gymnastics Federation and the National Olympic and Paralympic Committees on the one hand and the victims on the other.
Larry Nassar delivering the verdict. He was sentenced to 175 years in prison
Quelle: pa/Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP/dpa
In 2018, Michigan State University pledged $500 million in compensation. Nassar had taught medicine there and is said to have committed most of the known abuses there.
