The College of Southern California has agreed to settle claims from 80 former sufferers, most figuring out as LGBTQ, who accused a males’s well being doctor of misconduct — though the phrases of the settlement stay shrouded in secrecy.
In a joint assertion launched Thursday, USC and attorneys for the alleged victims of Dr. Dennis Kelly mentioned that “all events have mutually agreed that the main points of the settlement will stay confidential.” The assertion continued: “The events hope that this amicable decision will deliver closure to the plaintiffs.”
The settlement brings to a detailed a sequence of lawsuits that had been first filed in 2019 and grew to 80 former sufferers accusing Kelly of sexual battery, harassment and inappropriate remarks throughout appointments. 4 of the plaintiffs recognized as heterosexual, and 76 as LGBTQ; one plaintiff recognized as male on the time of the appointment with Kelly however now identifies as a lady, mentioned Mikayla Kellogg, one of many lead attorneys within the case.
Some former sufferers alleged that after studying they'd intercourse with different males, Kelly requested a sequence of intrusive, prurient questions, reminiscent of how a lot pornography they consumed and whether or not they “attached” with sexual companions on-line. One former affected person advised The Instances in 2019 that he felt unnerved when Kelly “simply sat there staring” at him whereas he undressed and accused the physician of graphic, “judgmental” strains of questioning throughout his appointments.
From depositions, interviews with witnesses, and a evaluation of scores of paperwork, Kellogg mentioned, USC had obtained complaints about Kelly “all through the course of employment.” Probably the most severe grievance was relayed to the college’s chief well being officer in “a face-to-face assembly” by a senior USC administrator.
“Regardless of this grievance, USC continued to permit Dr. Kelly to see college students for delicate medical exams,” Kellogg mentioned.
Kelly, who retired from USC in 2018 and surrendered his medical license two years later, has denied allegations of inappropriate conduct and neither USC nor the doctor admitted wrongdoing as a part of the settlement introduced Thursday. In a 2019 interview, Kelly mentioned that as an overtly homosexual doctor who devoted his profession to giving counsel to LGBTQ college students, the lawsuits’ claims had been “terribly hurtful.”
“I do know I did all of it professionally and with out another motive,” Kelly mentioned on the time.
The quiet decision of claims towards Kelly contrasts with extensively publicized settlements with 1000's of former sufferers of Dr. George Tyndall, which exceeded $1.1 billion. Within the Tyndall circumstances, USC didn't impose confidentiality provisions besides on a small group of former sufferers. When the ultimate Tyndall settlement was introduced final yr for $852 million, each President Carol Folt and the chairman of USC’s trustees, Rick Caruso, issued public statements of apology. “The quantity is critical, and we'll face some troublesome monetary decisions within the close to time period,” Folt mentioned on the time.
Requested Thursday how a confidential settlement served USC’s dedication to transparency and accountability, a college spokesperson declined additional remark.
John Manly, the lead legal professional representing former sufferers of Tyndall, blasted the college for withholding the sum it was paying to finish sexual misconduct litigation.
“This isn't a chemical firm — that is an entity funded by lots of of tens of millions of dollars in public cash, monetary support, authorities grants, Medicare funds. The overwhelming majority of USC’s funds is paid by public cash,” Manly mentioned. “What confidence does the general public have once they systematically interact in these confidential settlements?”
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