'Milestone' for victims in the Dr. Richard Strauss court battle

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — More fallout over one of the biggest scandals to rock Ohio State University.

Decades of alleged abuse by Ohio State University team doctor Richard Strauss are back under the microscope.

A new federal appeals court ruling revived unsettled lawsuits involving Strauss. Victims said Thursday the move gives them new hope in their battle to hold Ohio State accountable.

Hundreds of former student-athletes and other alumni said they were abused by Strauss during his two decades at the school from 1978-1989, and that Ohio State officials failed to stop Strauss despite knowing about complaints.

Strauss survivor Stephen Snyder-Hill said Thursday that the ruling is huge for former Buckeyes like himself who survived sexual abuse from a man they call a monster.

“OSU’s defense of all this was never that it didn’t happen," Snyder-Hill said. "It was that it has just been too long."

OSU has apologized to anyone Strauss harmed, and it has reached over $60 million in settlements with about 296 men, just over half the survivors. OSU sought to dismiss the remaining 236 cases saying their claims were made years too late.

“You know when they are talking about national championships, they have no problem being the OSU of the last 200 years and they will count every one of their championships and trophies up," Snyder-Hill said. "But man when it comes to sexual assault they are real good about saying 'oh that was the OSU of back then.' And this court just said you can’t do that. What I want from them is to admit what they have done. I want them to take ownership of what they have done. I am a survivor of sexual assault and a victim of OSU.”

Attorney Scott Elliott Smith said with this new ruling they hit a milestone.

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“We are elated for the ruling," Smith said. "We are elated for our clients who are survivors that stuck this out."

Smith said the ball is in OSU’s court and their strategy is unclear.

“They could file a motion to get the case into the United States Supreme Court," Smith said. "They could file a motion for reconsideration of a decision that has already been made. Or they could let it ride. Let it be reversed and go back to trial court."

Smith said the lengthy court battle is taxing on his clients.

“It’s very traumatizing," Smith said. "Every time they read about it. Every time we send information about the case."

Ohio State declined an on-camera interview and issued a statement that said, “we are reviewing the decision.”

“The guys that hung on, they have been tough, they deserve credit," Smith said. "They deserve respect because they have hung in there and that is why we fight every day."