Documentary Highlights Decades-Long Fight for Justice by Survivors of Dr. Richard Strauss’ Abuse
COLUMBUS, OHIO – April 16, 2025 – Sauder Schelkopf LLC, a leading law firm representing survivors of sexual abuse, commends the world premiere of the documentary Surviving Ohio State at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Eva Orner and produced by George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and David Glasser, the film sheds light on the extensive sexual abuse perpetrated by former Ohio State University (OSU) physician Dr. Richard Strauss and the university’s prolonged failure to act.
Since filing a class action lawsuit in July 2018 on behalf of former OSU students and athletes, Sauder Schelkopf has been at the forefront of the legal battle for justice. The lawsuit alleges that OSU officials were aware of Strauss’ misconduct as early as 1979 but failed to take appropriate action, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked for nearly two decades.
“The premiere of Surviving Ohio State is a significant moment for our clients and all the survivors who have bravely came forward,” said Joe Sauder of Sauder Schelkopf. “This documentary not only honors their courage but also brings national attention to the systemic failures that allowed such abuse to persist.”
An independent investigation commissioned by OSU in 2019 concluded that Dr. Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male students during his tenure from the mid-1970s through the 1990s. The report also found that university personnel had knowledge of Strauss’ abusive conduct but failed to escalate complaints beyond the Athletics Department or Student Health until 1996.
Surviving Ohio State features powerful firsthand accounts from survivors, including former athletes, and examines the broader institutional failures that enabled abuse to continue. The documentary is scheduled to air on HBO later this year, amplifying the voices of survivors and reigniting the call for accountability.
Sauder Schelkopf remains committed to representing survivors of sexual abuse nationwide, with ongoing cases involving schools, religious institutions, and other organizations. The firm continues to fight for transparency, accountability, and justice for all survivors.
About Sauder Schelkopf
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania.