Former USC Gynecologist George Tyndall Dies Amidst Pending Charges
A former gynecologist, George Tyndall, who was the focal point of a staggering $1 billion in university settlements linked to allegations of sexual abuse by hundreds of women, passed away on Wednesday, as reported by The Associated Press. His attorney, Leonard Levine, confirmed Tyndall’s death at the age of 76 on Thursday.
Tyndall was awaiting trial for over two dozen criminal misconduct charges allegedly taking place between 2009 and 2016 at the University of Southern California’s student health center.
According to Levine, a close friend of Tyndall discovered him deceased in his Los Angeles home on Wednesday, after he failed to answer her calls.
While no specific trial date was set, Tyndall had a court date scheduled later this month to establish one. He had consistently maintained his innocence and expressed a desire to present his case before a jury.
Tyndall faced a total of 35 alleged counts of sexual misconduct, which were later reduced to 27. These included 18 counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and 9 counts of sexual battery by fraud. These charges were based on allegations from 16 former patients at the campus student health center.
The accusations against Tyndall came to light in 2018 following an investigation by the Los Angeles Times, which uncovered complaints of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1990s.
In 2016, he was suspended by the university after a nurse reported him to a rape crisis center. He subsequently resigned quietly and received a substantial payout the following year. Many women reported their allegations to the police, but due to various factors, not all of these cases could lead to criminal charges.
In March 2021, USC reached a landmark settlement of $852 million with over 700 women who had accused Tyndall of sexual abuse. Notably, Tyndall invoked his rights against self-incrimination during the deposition for the settlement, did not contribute any money to it, and did not admit wrongdoing.
John Manly, the lead counsel in the civil case, pointed to district attorneys, both former and current, for the extended delays in pressing criminal charges. Manly also represented victims in the criminal proceedings. He noted that the case’s protraction had further traumatized the victims and postponed the trials, potentially denying the clients justice.
Aside from the $852 million settlement, USC had agreed in 2019 to pay $215 million to settle a class-action lawsuit covering about 18,000 female patients of Tyndall. Compensation ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, regardless of whether formal accusations had been made against Tyndall for harassment or assault.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.