11 Women Join in Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Assault by Former USC Gynecologist

Former University of Southern California gynecologist George Tyndall faces a lawsuit brought on behalf of 11 different women, most of whom are listed as “Jane Doe” to protect their identity, alleging that they were sexually assaulted, molested and abused during treatments at the USC student health center. 

The complaint (PDF) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on July 13, including claims against Tyndall, as well as the University of Southern California (USC) and its board of trustees.

All of the women indicate that they received a medical examination from Tyndall that involved inappropriate and unwanted touching between 1991 and 2015. The lawsuit indicates that these incidents were not about medical care, but instead were meant to provide Tyndall with sexual gratification.

USC is accused of failing to protect its students, alleging that the university received complaints about Tyndall for years, but failed to take appropriate action.

“USC violated its female students’ trust by knowingly putting women in the room for treatment by Tyndall, knowing that inappropriate physical contact and violations would occur,” the complaint states. “In fact, USC nurses, chaperones, and other staff members were regularly present in the examination rooms, observed the inappropriate sexual molestation, and took no steps to stop it as it occurred.”

USC Sexual Abuse Litigation

The case is one of a growing number of sexual abuse lawsuits filed against Tyndall, USC and its board of trustees. To date, more than 200 women have participated in sexual abuse lawsuits against Tyndall and USC, including a number of class actions.

In May, USC President C. L. Max Nikias agreed to resign just days after he sent a letter to students and staff announcing the results of an investigation into allegations that Tyndall engaged in inappropriate behavior with USC students.

Tyndall was allowed to retire in June 2017, and to date faces no criminal charges, despite dozens of claims that he assaulted female patients, and made both sexually suggestive and racist comments for years.

While USC indicated that it could find no evidence of criminal conduct, the University acknowledged in the statement last month that Dr. Tyndall’s behavior was unacceptable, and should not have been tolerated for so long.

Tyndall’s behavior was only addressed by the university after a nurse, frustrated with the lack of response to numerous complaints, took the issue to the campus’s rape crisis center. That led to an investigation of Tyndall, along with a suspension of his duties, and eventually a deal between Tyndall and USC that culminated in his retirement.

The University only reported his activities to the California Medical Board in March, after Tyndall contacted USC indicating that he wanted his job back. However, the complaints date back to the early 2000’s.