Columbus, OH (April 28, 2026) — Survivors in the Ohio State University sexual abuse litigation secured an important ruling as Judge Michael Watson of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio confirmed that plaintiffs may pursue a broad range of compensatory damages under Title IX.
Rejecting the University’s effort to limit recovery to tuition-related losses, the Court held that plaintiffs are “not categorically prohibited” from seeking damages for lost educational opportunities, lost earnings and earning capacity, and the costs of treating physical injuries resulting from the abuse.
Read the Court’s Order here
The ruling ensures that survivors will have the opportunity to present evidence of the real-world consequences of the University’s failures, including the impact on their education, careers, and long-term health.
While the Court reaffirmed that emotional distress damages are not available under current Supreme Court precedent, it made clear that survivors are entitled to pursue meaningful economic compensation where they can demonstrate concrete harm.
Importantly, the Court also recognized that these issues must be evaluated based on the facts of each survivor’s experience, preserving plaintiffs’ ability to present individualized evidence in upcoming proceedings.
“This decision rejects the University’s attempt to artificially limit the scope of harm suffered by survivors,” said Joseph Sauder, of Sauder Schelkopf and Sarah Bradshaw of Sharp Law LLP, two of the attorneys representing survivors. “The Court confirmed that survivors can seek accountability for the lasting educational, professional, and physical impacts of what happened to them.”
The case will now proceed toward bellwether trials, where juries will evaluate damages based on detailed evidence of each plaintiff’s losses.
The Columbus Dispatch: Strauss sexual abuse survivors can seek damages beyond tuition costs, judge rules
May17, 2019: A Message from President Drake: Strauss Investigation Report
Sports Illustrated: Why Aren’t More People Talking About the Ohio State Sex Abuse Scandal?
Sauder Schelkopf and Sharp Law have been at the forefront of this litigation since 2018. It is alleged that the university officials had knowledge of Strauss’ misconduct dating back to 1979 and failed to take appropriate action. A 2019 independent investigation commissioned by OSU concluded that Strauss abused at least 177 male students between 1978 and 1998 and that complaints were never elevated beyond the athletic and student health departments. Sauder Schelkopf and Sharp Law continue to represent a group of survivors seeking accountability and institutional reform.
For more information about this case or to speak with an attorney, please contact us by completing the form on this page or call 1-888-711-9975.