University of Michigan Physician Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Our Michigan doctor sexual abuse lawyers handle cases involving a former University of Michigan physician.  The university is currently investigating allegations of sexual abuse against former director of the University Health Service physician Robert E. Anderson.

Anderson, who is now deceased, spent several years as a top physician for football teams led by former coaches Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr.

The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office is reportedly reviewing the case, along with many other victims who have come forward with similar claims.

Anderson’s alleged misconduct includes sexual abuse and unneeded or unwanted exams, with one woman claiming in a 1995 lawsuit that Anderson fondled her breasts and gave her a vaginal exam for an examination that her workplace had required.

If you or a loved one was abused by Dr. Robert E. Anderson, you are likely to be traumatized and unsure of how to proceed. During this difficult time, it is important to understand your legal options and what legal avenues are available to you.

While sexual abuse is a crime, an illegal and malicious act can also give rise to a civil lawsuit. These claims are pursued by the affected party and look to provide compensation for their losses.

Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.  has represented plaintiffs in the Michigan State University and Larry Nassar lawsuits, and are currently fighting to hold Ohio State University accountable for its role in allowing Dr. Richard Strauss’ sexual abuse to occur.

Since 1969, Buckfire Law’s top-rated personal injury lawyers have been fighting for the rights of victims for decades, and they have made it their mission to hold sexual abusers accountable.

• University of Michigan Dr. Robert Anderson Sex Abuse Scandal
• How do I File A Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against U-M?
• Get Help From a Michigan Doctor Sexual Abuse Attorney

Who Can File A Sexual Abuse Claim Against U-M?

It is possible to file a lawsuit against any individual, business or corporation that allowed Anderson’s sexual abuse to occur.

Therefore, if the University of Michigan was aware of sexual misconduct allegations against Anderson and did not take appropriate actions to protect its students and his patients, the university can be held accountable.

Any person who was sexually abused by Anderson while he was employed as a physician at the University of Michigan can file a settlement claim.

Dr. Anderson reportedly sexually abused his victims under the false pretense that he was performing legitimate and acceptable medical treatments and examinations.

According to a police investigative report in 2018, officials at the University of Michigan were reportedly made aware of sexual abuse allegations against Anderson. It is not clear, however, why or how he moved as a practicing physician in another position at the university.

The 2018 report was part of a 124-page police investigative file about allegations against Anderson that was reviewed by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office and obtained by The Detroit News under the Freedom of Information Act.

Anderson treated students at U-M for 24 years after being forced out of student health services for “fooling around with male students” in exam rooms, according to a police investigation.

According to a document dated Aug. 13, 1979, Anderson was to be moved from his position as director of the health service to clinical instructor effective Jan. 14, 1980, with a reduced salary. From there, he served as the athletic department’s top physician, serving football teams led by Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr.

University of Michigan Dr. Robert Anderson Sex Abuse Scandal

Multiple documents and reports coming to light reveal that university officials allegedly knew Anderson was fondling patients more than four decades ago. However, he continued to practice.

A former Detroit resident and U-M alumnus recently accused Anderson of sexually assaulting him nearly 50 years ago, and last August sent school officials an essay he wrote, “My Michigan Me-too Moment, 1971.”

According to The Detroit News, Robert Julian Stone composed an account in the summer of 2019 of the assault that he says occurred when he went for a medical exam in June 1971 with Anderson, who was then head of the U-M Student Health Service.

After Stone sent his written account to two top U-M officials, he spoke with university police and filed a report alleging that Anderson dropped his pants during a medical exam, grabbed Stone’s hand and used it to fondle the doctor’s genitals.

The University of Michigan said it was first alerted to allegations against Anderson in July 2018, when a former student athlete wrote to Athletic Director Warde Manuel to detail abuse during medical exams by Anderson in the early 1970s.

A 91-page police report compiled by University of Michigan police details several reports of sexual misconduct during medical exams by Anderson, who worked at the school from 1968 until his retirement in 2003. He died in 2008.

The report, obtained by MLive Media Group, includes accounts from former UM students who said Anderson performed unnecessary hernia and prostate exams, including one case where a student-athlete was seeking treatment for a dislocated elbow.

According to the report, a man who wrestled at the university in the 1970s told UM’s Office for Institutional Equity in 2018 that Anderson was known among some student-athletes as “Dr. Drop Your Drawers.”

An Olympic and former Michigan All-American wrestler Andy Hrvoat was the latest person to accuse Anderson of touching him inappropriately. Hrvoat said he was a freshman at the university in 1998 when he went to Anderson, according to WDIV-TV.

“From my experience, going into there [an exam with Dr. Anderson], you freeze up because you already know going in something weird is going to happen,” Hrvoat said.

How do I File A Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against U-M?

Filing a lawsuit against the University of Michigan is oftentimes not about the money to the victims of sexual assault. Rather, it was about holding the school and others who turned a blind eye to the abuse for many years accountable for their actions and inaction.

Unfortunately, the best way to prevent such a travesty from occurring again in the future is to cause a financial hurt.

While a potential settlement will never restore what has been lost by the countless victims, it will provide some monetary compensation them for the physical and emotional harm that they have suffered for many years.

The settlement funds will also help pay for needed counseling and therapy for the psychological damages allegedly caused by Dr. Anderson going in the future.

To file a claim, the victim will need to establish that treatment was performed by Dr. Anderson and that sexual abuse occurred under the pretense of a medical exam. This can be easily proven by medical records and the testimony of the victim. Corroboration of the abuse by an independent witness, like a parent, is not necessary to file and win a settlement.

What is the Compensation for a Dr. Anderson Sex Abuse Claim?

Due to the severe nature of sexual abuse claims, the damages that can be requested are often significant. Of course, the specific forms of compensation sought by a plaintiff will depend on the specifics of each case.

These damages can include non-economic damages — such as emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and loss of enjoyment of life — and can also include significant economic damages, including ongoing therapy and medication needs, a loss of earning capacity, wage loss, and loss of services.

In addition, the patient’s spouse may have his or her own claim for loss of society, companionship, and consortium, as well as the disruption of the family.

While some damages can have definitive pay stubs, others are more difficult to calculate. By working with a dedicated Michigan attorney, a claimant can have legal help to calculate the extent of their losses following a physician’s sexual abuse.

Get Help From a Michigan Doctor Sexual Abuse Attorney

As a patient or parent, people expect medical professionals to treat them or their children with care and respect.

Unfortunately, numerous types of sexual abuse at the hands of a doctor are common throughout the state and can have a long-lasting and devastating impact on a person’s physical, emotional, and even financial well being.

Victims of Dr. Anderson may wish to take legal action through a civil lawsuit with the help of a Michigan doctor sexual abuse lawyer.

By reaching out to our award-winning attorneys at Buckfire Law, you can rest assured that a legal professional will work hard to demand the compensation you deserve.

Call today to tell us your story. If you have a case, we will represent you under our No-Fee Promise, which means there are no legal fees whatsoever unless you win a settlement.