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John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | January 25, 2022
While no charges could be filed since Anderson was dead and because the state’s six-year statute of limitations had expired, the investigation found that Michigan staffers were “aware of rumors and allegations of misconduct” by Anderson.
Another former student, Robert Julian Stone, wrote a letter to UM with allegations of his own and shared his story with The Detroit News. Following this, university police revealed they were investigating several accusations against Anderson. WilmerHale, a law firm hired by the university to conduct an independent inquiry, said that over two dozen employees were informed about Anderson’s actions during his nearly 40 years at the university, and that the majority did nothing to stop the abuse.
One accuser filed a suit in March 2020 against the school. Since then, other former student-athletes, pilots, medical students, gay men and a few women have come forward with accusations against the doctor. As of October, the university has paid more than $28 million in legal and other costs tied to sexual assault allegations against Anderson,
reported The Detroit News. "I’m so looking forward to putting this behind me,” Stone told the news outlet.
The case echoes accusations made by hundreds of women against sports doctor Larry Nassar. The accusers brought a suit against his former employer, Michigan State University, which settled in 2018 and awarded the 332 women $500 million. Nassar, who had worked as a doctor for the USA Gymnastics federation and served at an on-campus clinic at Michigan State, pleaded guilty the year before to criminal sexual conduct. He was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison.
A sticking point for the Anderson settlement was that advocacy would cease for two bills inspired by the accusations that were introduced by Michigan lawmakers last year. The proposed legislation called for changing the statute of limitations and a government immunity law to allow accusers to bring lawsuits against UM. A rally to advocate for the bills this month was canceled, as a result.
Parker Stinar, a lawyer representing 200 accusers, says he hopes the case will bring awareness to male survivors of sexual abuse, who are not as well received by society and can be reluctant to come forward. "It has been a long and challenging journey and I believe this settlement will provide justice and healing for the many brave men and women who refused to be silenced.”
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