(WWJ) -- Matt Schembechler, the son of legendary University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, plans to speak to the media Thursday to present evidence that his father ignored abuse by a former university doctor.
Hundreds of former student-athletes at the school have recently come forward with sexual abuse allegations against Dr. Robert E. Anderson, leading the school to commission a 240-page report that concluded the doctor had sexually abused patients, most of whom were young men on “countless occasions.”
A press release from the law firms representing Matt Schembechler and hundreds of victims claiming abuse by Anderson says Schembechler and two former Michigan football players will address the media Thursday at 1 p.m.
Schembechler, who attorneys say is a survivor of Anderson’s abuse himself, will be joined by Daniel Kwiatkowski and Gilvanni Johnson, who both say they told their coach about the assaults, only to be ignored. Also on-hand will be attorneys Mick Grewel, Stephen Drew, Dennis Mulvihill and Jonathan Marko.
More than two dozen University of Michigan employees were alerted to reports of sexually inappropriate behavior by Anderson, “reports that could have stopped the doctor who is accused of molesting more than 800 survivors,” according to the report.
The press release says Schembechler was among the officials who were alerted to Anderson’s behavior -- a claim that has been recently denied by current Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh, who played in college for Schembechler.
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Attorneys say Kwiatkowski was sexually assaulted by Anderson during his first football physical in 1977. “After the next football practice following the physical, Dan confronted Bo and told him what Anderson did. Bo's advice to Dan was to tell him to ‘toughen up’ and ignore the abuse,” according to attorneys. Kwiatkowski was allegedly violated at the next two yearly physicals.
Johnson also told his coach he was assaulted after his first physical in 1982 and “despite promising to address the issue with the medical staff, Bo did nothing,” attorneys say. Members of the coaching staff reportedly told Johnson’s mother they would take care of her son while he was at Michigan, but he was allegedly sexually assaulted “15-20 more times” by Anderson.
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