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University of Michigan Agrees Victim Of Sex Abuse Waited Too Long To File Suit

May 1, 2020 / 9:24 PM EDT / CBS Detroit

DETROIT (AP) — A former wrestler who claims he was sexually assaulted by a University of Michigan sports doctor waited too long to file a lawsuit, the school said Friday as it asked a judge to dismiss the case.

The university said it believes Dr. Robert Anderson assaulted athletes, and it wants to compensate victims. But it added that it's trying to avoid "drawn-out litigation" while a law firm investigates what happened during Anderson's decades in Ann Arbor. He died in 2008.

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 15: Wide receiver Mario Manningham #86 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium on October 15, 2005 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Nittany Lions 27-25. (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images)

"The university is committed to grappling with those findings, whatever they may be, to ensure that nothing like this can ever happen again," attorneys said in a filing in U.S. District Court.

In his lawsuit, a man identified as John Doe MC-4 said he was molested by Anderson during exams approximately 16 times, from 1987 to 1991. Hundreds of others have said they, too, were assaulted, some as far back as the 1960s.

"The university has great sympathy for what plaintiff suffered," attorney Cheryl Bush said of Doe.

But in Doe's case, Bush noted that decades have passed since the last abuse, making the lawsuit untimely.

"The statutes of limitations and sovereign immunity prevent him from recovering damages in court. Plaintiff's complaint should be dismissed," she said.

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 13: Michigan Wolverines Athletic Director Warde Manuel hugs Dylan McCaffrey #10 after a 38-13 win over the Wisconsin Badgers on October 13, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Campus police began looking into Anderson in 2018 after a former athlete wrote to athletic director Warde Manuel about being sexually abused during medical exams in the early 1970s.

The university has acknowledged some employees were aware of accusations against Anderson before the 2018 complaint.

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 31 : University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel speaks at a news conference announcing the resignation of Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon in the Regents Room of the Fleming Administration Building October 31, 2014 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Brandon has been under intense fire and scrutiny, particularly over the past weeks after Michigan's quarterback Shane Morris suffered a concussion during the 2014 football season. Jim Hackett, who retired this year as CEO of Michigan-based furniture company Steelcase, has been named interim athletic director. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)

President Mark Schlissel this week said he wants to compensate people outside the court system. He was joined in a statement by Ron Weiser, chairman of the university's governing board, who has said he was molested by Anderson in the '60s.

Nearly 300 complaints about Anderson are being investigated by the WilmerHale law firm, university spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said Friday.

The firm's report will be released to the public, Fitzgerald said.

Sexual Abuse
University of Michigan