Class action lawsuits filed against USC in ex-campus gynecologist scandal
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Two class action lawsuits have been filed against the University of Southern California for allegedly failing to protect students from alleged sexual abuse by former campus gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall, a law firm announced Friday.
Howard A. Janet of Janet, Janet and Suggs, LLC and partner Mike Arias of Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Torrijos, LLP are behind the first class actions to be filed in California state court on behalf of thousands of female students who were allegedly sexually abused and illicitly photographed by Tyndall, a press release stated.
"The conduct alleged to have been committed by USC OB/GYN Dr. George Tyndall is eerily similar to that of Dr. Levy. As with the Hopkins case, this case centers on allegations of grossly improper pelvic exams that involved improper probing, at times without gloves, sexually charged remarks and illicit photographing of genitalia," Janet stated.
RELATED: USC faculty town hall meeting held over gynecologist scandal
The lawsuits allege that USC received repeated complaints from students and co-workers but failed to take appropriate steps to investigate those complaints. It added that finally in 2016, an investigation by MDReview, which USC hired, found that Tyndall "exhibited unprofessional and inappropriate behavior" and that his pelvic exams were outside "current standards of care."
"Shockingly, it appears USC agreed to enter a 'no finding' conclusion related to the investigation, characterize Tyndall's departure as a resignation, and actually provide him severance pay despite the findings from MDReview's investigation," said Arias.
The lead plaintiffs for the classes were not identified due to the sensitive nature of the lawsuits, which further allege that many of the women targeted by Tyndall were of Chinese or other Asian descent.
