Ohio State University is asking a judge to dismiss three federal lawsuits filed by former students alleging sexual misconduct by a team doctor.
The lawsuits say university officials turned a blind eye to rampant sexual abuse by Dr. Richard Strauss, who worked at Ohio State for 20 years until he retired in 1998. Strauss killed himself in 2005.
The university says in legal motions filed Friday that the former students' claims are barred by the statute of limitations, which is two years. In addition, Ohio State argues as a public unviersity it has sovereign immunity just as a state does.
Ohio State stressed it's not dismissing the students' claims as baseless.
"While the university is responding to the legal claims filed against it, as it must, Ohio State's motions to dismiss are not directed towards plaintiffs' claims of injury," lawyer Michael Carpenter said in a statement. "As stated in the motions to dismiss, 'Ohio State is not ignoring or being dismissive of plaintiffs' factual allegations."
A law firm hired by the university has been conducting an investigation into allegations that Strauss groped scores of male athletes and other students. To date, about 150 people have come forward to provide firsthand accounts of sexual misconduct by Strauss.
The allegations date from 1979 to 1997 and involve male athletes from at least 16 sports, plus Strauss' work at the student health center and his off-campus medical office. Investigators also are reviewing whether university officials properly responded to any concerns raised about Strauss during his tenure, and whether Strauss examined high school students.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled in federal court for October 1.
