USA Gymnastics, survivors propose $425M settlement in Larry Nassar sex abuse case

Sept. 1 (UPI) -- USA Gymnastics and hundreds of women who say they were sexually abused by former team doctor Larry Nassar have proposed a $425 million settlement that could put an end to the long-running saga, which victimized some of Team USA's biggest stars.

USA Gymnastics and the survivors committee jointly raised the settlement in a filing in bankruptcy court late Tuesday. It still must be approved by creditors and a majority of the victims, which number about 500.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee expressed support for the agreement and urged insurers to commit to funding it.

The proposed agreement is part of a reorganization plan for USA Gymnastics and a resolution to the three-year-old case involving Nassar, who was a team doctor for USA Gymnastics and a physician at Michigan State University. It also outlines steps USA Gymnastics would take to prevent abuse in the future.

Some of those measures would include requiring clubs to put up posters with information on how to report sexual abuse, reporting responsibilities when abuse is suspected and the completion of Safe Sport training when minors are involved.

Several gymnasts want the resolution to include an acknowledgement that Nassar continued to train without consequence.

USA Gymnastics said it expects the settlement to be approved by November.

Nassar is now in prison after he was tried, convicted and sentenced to up to 175 years for sexually assaulting a number of girls. He agreed in 2018 to pay $500 million to settle lawsuits with hundreds of victims.

USA Gymnastics declared bankruptcy in 2018 and a $215 million settlement offer in January 2020 was rejected.

Hundreds of women have said over the past few years that Nassar abused them, including Olympic medalists Simone Biles and Aly Raisman.