Biles has been one of the leading voices in calling for a new investigation into the Larry Nassar caseGETTY IMAGES
Attorneys for Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast Simone Biles and "about 140 other survivors of sexual abuse filed a motion opposing a protective order" sought by the USOPC to "block testimony in the Larry Nassar case," according to David Woods of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. The motion "seeks depositions from eight former or current USOPC officers," including former CEO Scott Blackmun; former BOD Chair Lawrence Probst; Chair and former BOD member Susanne Lyons; and CFO Morane Kerek. USA Gymnastics in December '18 filed for bankruptcy, "stopping all legal proceedings and litigation." USAG has proposed a $217M settlement, "asking more than 500 survivors to accept a deal" releasing the USOPC and others from "all claims." The new motion "states the USOPC 'seeks to quietly hide in the periphery of this bankruptcy, in hopes that enough of the Abuse Claimants grow tired of this process' and accept the settlement 'without the USOPC contributing a cent of its own money to settlement and also without disclosing any facts whatsoever related to its liabilities'" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/16).
ANSWERING QUESTIONS: In California, Scott Reid reports attorneys for the survivors maintain that the depositions are needed to "provide the women with an accurate account of the USOPC’s finances before signing off an agreement that releases the organization from financial and legal liability." The depositions also would "shine new light on why Michigan State was not contacted [by] USOPC officials, along with USA Gymnastics and FBI officials, after they were presented with allegations of sexual abuse against Nassar by multiple gymnasts" in the summer of '15 (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/16).
