USC President Steps Down In Wake of Tyndall Sex Abuse Scandal

University of Southern California President C.L. Max Nikias stepped down on Tuesday in the wake of the school’s sex abuse scandal over the decades-long conduct of campus gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall. USC’s Trustees appointed alumna and former Aerospace Corp. president Wanda Austin as interim president until a permanent replacement can be found.

The university faces accusations of ignoring a multitude of complaints against Dr. Tyndall, who worked at the university clinic for 30 years, has been accused by hundreds of USC students of using his position of authority as a medical professional to repeatedly take advantage of female patients. The allegations include Tyndall routinely making crude comments to patients, taking improper and inappropriate photographs, forcing plaintiffs to strip naked, and groping them with his bare fingers under the guise of medical procedure. As reported by MSN, “Tyndall, who has since retired, is the focus of some two dozen lawsuits and a police investigation into allegations involving at least 50 women.”

“As I have said previously, it is evident that the recent crises have resulted from systemic and cultural failures,” wrote Board of Trustees Chair Rick J. Caruso in a letter to faculty, students and alumni. “Both the behavior and the environment that allowed it to persist are inexcusable and will no longer be tolerated.”

The forced resignation of USC’s president “represent[ed] the most concrete step yet by USC to recover from a series of scandals that culminated with allegations this spring against Dr. George Tyndall,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

Lieff Cabraser and Co-Counsel File Class Action Lawsuit Against Dr. Tyndall and USC on Behalf of Patients

Lieff Cabraser’s class action lawsuit on behalf of allegedly abused USC student patients was filed against Dr. Tyndall and USC over charges including gender violence, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual harassment, negligence, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent failure to warn, train, or educate, and wanton and reckless conduct relating to the gynecological medical treatment received by the plaintiffs and the class while they were students at USC. Learn more about the USC/ Dr. George Tyndall gender violence and sexual abuse class action.

Contact Sexual Abuse Lawyer Annika K. Martin at Lieff Cabraser

Lieff Cabraser partner Annika K. Martin, herself an alumnus of USC’s law school, is leading the litigation for our firm on behalf of women who suffered violence, abuse, and harassment by George Tyndall and USC. She is a partner in the firm’s New York office and has represented plaintiffs since 2005 in environmental, mass tort, consumer protection, and sexual abuse cases. She can be reached at akmartin@lchb.com or 800-541-7358. There is no charge or obligation for your outreach, and all information will be held in the strictest confidence.