Attorneys for New Albany billionaire Les Wexner are asking a federal judge to block a subpoena in a lawsuit tied to sexual abuse by a former Ohio State doctor.
Les Wexner Seeks to Block Subpoena in Ohio State Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Attorneys for New Albany billionaire Les Wexner are asking a federal judge to block a subpoena that would require him to testify in a lawsuit connected to the sexual abuse of athletes by a former Ohio State University doctor.
Former athletes are suing Ohio State, alleging the university failed to protect students from Dr. Richard Strauss, a former team physician who sexually abused male athletes for decades under the pretense of medical examinations.
After repeated efforts to serve Wexner at his New Albany estate were unsuccessful, U.S. District Judge Michael Watson allowed plaintiffs to serve the subpoena by mail earlier this month. On Wednesday, Wexner’s attorney, Marion H. Little Jr., filed a motion asking the court to quash the subpoena.
In the filing, Little argued that Wexner has no relevant knowledge about Strauss or the abuse allegations and said the subpoena was intended to generate media attention rather than gather evidence. The filing states there is no public evidence showing Wexner knew about Strauss’ actions.
Wexner served as chairman of Ohio State’s board of trustees during the mid-1990s, when the university quietly investigated Strauss and later ended his employment contracts. Attorneys for the former athletes argue that Wexner’s leadership role suggests he may have knowledge about how the university handled the matter, a claim Wexner has consistently denied.
Little said the alleged “culture of cover-ups” cited by plaintiffs supports Wexner’s position that he was never informed about Strauss during that time. He also noted that other trustees who served alongside Wexner have not been subpoenaed, calling the effort a public pressure campaign.
One of the plaintiffs, former OSU athlete Steven Snyder-Hill, rejected the claim that the subpoena is a media tactic. Snyder-Hill said Wexner does not need to have known Strauss personally to provide relevant testimony, arguing his role on the board raises questions about what university leaders knew and how they responded.
The State Medical Board of Ohio opened an investigation into Strauss in 1996, but the case was later closed without disciplinary action. Strauss later obtained another medical license after moving to California and died in 2005.
release of additional investigatory materials used in Ohio State’s independent review of Strauss’ misconduct. While OSU published a 182-page report in 2019, the court will now consider previously unreleased documents.
Court filings indicate the ruling could require the university to review and release tens of thousands of records that are not protected by privilege. Ohio State opposed the release, citing cost and time concerns, but the judge ordered the university to proceed and provide an update within 30 days.
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