Ohio State Ordered to Release Documents From Strauss Abuse Probe

Judge rules university must turn over thousands of pages related to investigation of former doctor's misconduct.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 12:31pm

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Ohio State University has been ordered by a federal judge to review and produce thousands of pages of documents related to an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by former athletic department doctor Richard Strauss. The plaintiffs in the case have been fighting to force the university to release the documents, which detail the extent of Strauss's abuse, Ohio State's knowledge of it, and its response.

Why it matters

This ruling is a significant victory for the plaintiffs, who have been seeking accountability and transparency from Ohio State over the Strauss scandal. The documents could shed more light on the university's handling of the abuse allegations and any potential failures to protect student-athletes.

The details

The order, issued by Judge Michael H. Watson and Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Preston Deavers, rejects Ohio State's argument that reviewing the documents to protect privileged information would be overly burdensome. The plaintiffs are seeking access to the findings of an investigation conducted by the law firm Perkins Coie into the Strauss allegations.

  • The order was issued on January 29, 2026.

The players

Ohio State University

The public research university located in Columbus, Ohio that employed Richard Strauss and is facing allegations that it failed to properly address sexual abuse claims against him.

Richard Strauss

A former Ohio State athletic department doctor accused of sexually abusing numerous student-athletes over his two decades at the university.

Judge Michael H. Watson

The federal judge who issued the order requiring Ohio State to produce documents related to the Strauss investigation.

Judge Elizabeth A. Preston Deavers

The federal magistrate judge who co-issued the order with Judge Watson.

Perkins Coie LLP

The law firm that conducted an investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse against Richard Strauss.

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What’s next

The judge has ordered Ohio State to review the documents and produce them to the plaintiffs, which could lead to further revelations about the university's handling of the Strauss abuse allegations.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing need for institutions to thoroughly investigate and be transparent about allegations of sexual misconduct, in order to protect vulnerable individuals and maintain public trust.