A new lawsuit filed in California accuses former Michigan State University physician Dr. Larry Nassar of sexual assault and university staff of supporting his actions.
Attorneys for 15 alleged victims announced the lawsuit on behalf of a 16th alleged victim. Tiffany Michelle Thomas (Lopez) was recruited to play softball at Michigan State on full athletic scholarship in 1997. The lawsuit claims she was referred to Dr. Nassar by the university for treatment of chronic lower back pain from softball training.
The lawsuit was filed out of state because Lopez now lives in California.
The lawsuit alleges:
During the course of Nassar’s treatments, Nassar allegedly inserted “his bare, un-gloved and unlubricated hand into her vagina.” When Tiffany reported Nassar’s disturbing “treatments” to the MSU training staff she was allegedly told that Nassar was a world renowned doctor and that his “inter-vaginal adjustments” were legitimate medical treatments.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday morning against Michigan State University and Nassar.
Nassar, 53, was arrested by the FBI earlier this month on child porn charges. A court document alleges that on Sept. 18, 2004 and Dec. 1, 2004, Nassar received child pornography that was sent to him over the internet.
STORY: Former USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar arrested by FBI on child porn charges
The document also says that between Feb. 6, 2003 and Sept, 20, 2016, Nassar was in possession of computer disks and electronic files that had thousands of images of child pornography.
Some of the images allegedly included a minor who was younger than 12 years old, officials said.
The latest allegations are separate from charges against Nassar of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Michigan involving a child under 13.
Three charges were filed against Nassar, according to online court records in Ingham County. The alleged incidents occurred in 1998. The records don't indicate whether the charges involve one victim or more.
Nassar already was under scrutiny after two gymnasts, including a member of the 2000 U.S. women's Olympic team, accused him of sexual abuse.
Nassar was accused of sexually abusing two former gymnasts -- a former Olympic medalist and a 31-year-old woman who now lives in Kentucky.
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