Richard Strauss and The Ohio State University must be held accountable

Richard Strauss, the former Ohio State University Athletic Director, who is now deceased, abused at least 177 male students between 1979 and 1998. University officials at the Ohio State University failed to notify the proper authorities, and failed to take adequate steps to address his actions according to a report that the Ohio State University released on Friday, May 17, 2019. The long-awaited report confirms many of the allegations that former students publicly made against Dr. Strauss in the past year. Strauss was a doctor who abused his position in many ways including requiring invasive exams for minor ailments to showering with students and performing sex acts.

The Dickson Firm has always been committed to standing up for people who have been abused and neglected. In our nursing home practice, we stand up every day for residents who have been abused and neglected by the nursing homes who were entrusted with their care. We represent residents who are neglected for such an extensive period of time that they actually develop bedsores which in some cases are fatal. We represent residents who are neglected and not monitored and not adequately supervised and are allowed to wander and sometimes fall and suffer serious injuries and sometimes leave the nursing home unattended and suffer serious injuries. Many of these residents die as a result of the neglect of the nursing home.

We also have a particular commitment to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Our founder, Blake Dickson, is extremely involved with the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. He is very involved with their fundraising efforts. He is also one of a group of attorneys who has pledged to volunteer their time to work with victims of sexual assault, including appearing in court with them, providing them with legal advice and providing them with support.

It can be extremely difficult for survivors of sexual assault to come forward. They are reluctant to tell their story. They are reluctant to reveal to anyone what has happened to them. Particularly in the case of male victims, there is a great deal of shame involved. At The Dickson Firm, we are committed to working with any victim who seeks our help. We want you to know that it is not your fault. You have nothing to be ashamed of. It can be very empowering for survivors of sexual assault to pursue those individuals who have wronged them and to prevail in civil litigation. In some cases, unfortunately, the criminal prosecution of the assailant is not successful. The assailant is not held responsible by the criminal justice system. In some of those cases, The Dickson Firm has been able to prevail on behalf of their client in civil litigation. This has enabled those survivors to feel vindicated. The Dickson Firm is committed to listening to each one of our clients and to providing them with whatever help we can.

We see you.

We hear you.

We are here for you.

While Dr. Strauss is deceased, Ohio State University chose not to take the adequate steps with respect to Dr. Strauss, chose not to fire him, chose not to warn students about him, may very well be liable to his victims.

If any survivor of sexual assault, whether a survivor of Dr. Strauss' abuse or any survivor of sexual assault would like to talk with one of the attorneys at The Dickson firm, it would be our pleasure to speak with you, and to help you in any way that we can.