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Denver Trial Lawyers ® played a significant role in reaching a $490 million settlement with the University of Michigan (U-M), benefiting former U-M athletes and students who allege they were sexually abused by Dr. Robert Anderson. For decades, Anderson was left to prey on his patients as team doctor, completely unchecked by U-M officials.
Denver Trial Lawyers’ attorney Michael Nimmo represented hundreds of victims in the case against U-M and had the honor of representing Andy Hrovat and Tad Deluca, two of the first former U-M athletes to speak out publicly about Anderson’s practice of abuse.
At U-M, Hrovat was an All-American wrestler who made school history with a 132-39 record. From there, he went on to compete in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. After years of having to live with the trauma caused by Anderson, he was compelled to speak up to save others from experiencing the same horrific abuse. Hrovat reached out to Denver Trial Lawyers ® for legal help.
It didn’t take long for our leading attorneys to uncover a troubling history of sexual abuse by Anderson. In fact, Anderson was known among U-M athletes as “Dr. Drop Your Drawers” and “Dr. Glove” after allegedly sexually abusing numerous students under his care, such as through medically unnecessary testicular and rectal exams. He was also known for trading sexual favors with patients seeking draft deferment during the Vietnam War.
Over the years, various students notified university officials of Anderson’s misconduct. Still, Anderson was allowed to continue on as a university physician. His career at U-M lasted from 1968 to 2003.
The $490 million settlement will be paid from U-M’s reserves and insurance proceeds, according to a U-M spokesman. A total of $460 million will be split between about 1,050 victims who have filed claims. The remaining $30 million will be set aside for victims who decide to file claims by July 31, 2023.
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Proudly Fighting for Sexual Abuse Victims
Our team at Denver Trial Lawyers ® was very honored to advocate for sexual abuse victims of Anderson. We have been involved in this litigation from the start, handling the legal work and speaking with the media on behalf of our clients.
The bravery displayed by our clients has deeply inspired us, and we would like to congratulate them on this historic victory.
As a premier trial law firm, we have represented countless victims across the nation, including survivors of Dr. Anderson at the University of Michigan and survivors of Dr. Nassar and USA Gymnastics. This has resulted in each of our attorneys being selected to The Best Lawyers in America© and Super Lawyers®, two renowned legal ranking guides. Our firm as a whole has also been met with much acclaim, such as through its ranking in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.”
To learn more, contact Denver Trial Lawyers ® online or at (303) 647-9990.
