A senior federal judge from Cincinnati will handle the mediation of two lawsuits filed against Ohio State University by scores of men alleging the university ignored or failed to stop sexual misconduct by a team doctor.
The cases were referred Friday to Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett after lawyers for OSU and the men couldn't agree on a mediator. The plaintiffs suggested the mediation teams used in cases involving Michigan State and Penn State. OSU had recommended a former federal judge or a federal appeals court mediator. Lawyers on both sides shared little reaction, saying only that they look forward to working through mediation with Barrett. A law firm is investigating the allegations for Ohio State. The doctor , Richard Strauss, died in 2005. No one has publicly defended him.
