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Michigan State hiring law firm after ex-football coach, trustee accused of covering up Larry Nassar rape video
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Michigan State University is hiring an outside law firm after accusations that ex-football coach and current trustee George Perles covered up a video which contained footage of disgraced doctor Larry Nassar raping a former student.
The Lansing State Journal reported that Michigan State made the announcement to hire the outside law firm in response to the accusations.
“We are in the process of retaining counsel and once retained, Mr. Perles’ counsel will speak for him,” said Robert Young, who is the vice president and general counsel for the university. He emailed the statement to the Lansing State Journal.
The lawsuit, filed by former Michigan State field hockey player Erika Davis, alleges that she was drugged and raped by Nassar after being sent to see the doctor for examination on a knee injury. The incident was reportedly recorded on video.
Davis then explained the incident to her coach, Martha Ludwig, who then demanded the video, according to the lawsuit. However, Perles, who was Michigan State’s athletic director at the time, intervened and forced Ludwig to return the video.
The lawsuit states that the complaint against Nassar was dropped and that Ludwig had resign and sign a non-disclosure agreement. Davis also lost her scholarship, according to the lawsuit.
Perles was the head football coach at Michigan State from 1982-1994 and was the athletic director from 1990-1992. He is still a trustee.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB