Depositions Resume After Six-Year Pause in Ohio State Dr. Richard Strauss Sexual Abuse Lawsuits; Former Federal Judge Layn Phillips Appointed to Oversee Mediation
July 18, 2025 — After a six-year pause caused by appellate delays that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, depositions are finally underway in the landmark sexual abuse lawsuits filed by former student-athletes against The Ohio State University. The federal judge overseeing the case has also appointed former U.S. District Judge Layn Phillips to serve as mediator in an effort to resolve the cases short of trial. The litigation, which stems from decades of sexual abuse by former team doctor Richard Strauss, entered a new phase this week with the deposition of