Claims Against Texas-Based Karolyis Not Addressed in $500M Nassar Settlement

The $500 million settlement Michigan State University reached with more than 300 women and girls who said they were assaulted by sports doctor Larry Nassar doesn’t address claims against other parties, including Texas-based Bela and Martha Karolyi.

The Karolyis, who coached America’s top female gymnasts for three decades, have been named in a lawsuit by former USA gymnast Sabrina Vega, who was on the team that won a gold medal at the 2011 World Championships. Vega alleges that the Karolyis and others failed to protect her from being abused by Nassar.

The suit claims that the Karolyis ignored signs about Nassar’s behavior or should have known he posed a risk to the gymnasts he treated.

According to the Associated Press, Vega alleges that during medical treatments, Nassar molested her hundreds of times from 2008, when she was 12 years old, until 2012, during competitions and while she trained at the Karolyi Ranch, outside of Huntsville, Texas. Vega’s lawsuit was filed in state district court in Huntsville.

A statement released by MSU set out the terms of the settlement as follows:

• $425 million dollars will be paid to current claimants
• $75 million dollars will be set aside in a trust fund to protect any future claimants alleging sexual abuse by Larry Nassar
• No confidentiality agreements or non-disclosure agreements are attached to the settlement. Additionally, the parties must act to address items necessary to finalize the agreement.

The settlement in principle was agreed to by the MSU Board of Trustees during an evening conference call held May 15.

The AP reported that the university has not said where the money will come from or how much each party receives.

Topics Texas Claims