LOS ANGELES (CA)
The Washington Post
June 11, 2018
By Susan Svrluga
The U.S. Education Department is launching an investigation into the University of Southern California’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against a former gynecologist at the school’s student health clinic – and why complaints were not disclosed earlier.
Last month, the Los Angeles Times reported that the private research university had let gynecologist George Tyndall continue treating students despite complaints about his behavior. In the days after the story ran, hundreds of women came forward to report misconduct by Tyndall, who had been a physician there for more than 30 years. Many lawsuits were quickly filed claiming Tyndall sexually abused patients and that the university did not act on complaints. A spokesman for Manly, Stewart & Finaldi said that the firm has filed 20 lawsuits and that more will be forthcoming. The firm is representing more than 100 women.
Outrage over the allegations against the doctor, along with two previous scandals and the way the university’s leadership handled them, led to the announcement last month that USC President C.L. Max Nikias would step down.
On Monday, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights signaled its concern. It announced it would evaluate the university’s response to reports of sexual harassment that were not fully investigated by the university until years later. The department said the university did not disclose those complaints about medical exams during an earlier investigation.
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