Call us today for a free, confidential consultation if you or a loved one are a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of Dr. Brad Bomba Sr., the former team physician for Indiana University’s men’s basketball team. You may qualify for financial compensation in a lawsuit against Indiana University if:
- You were a member of Indiana University’s men’s basketball team
- You were sexually abused by Dr. Brad Bomba Sr.
We have been representing sexual abuse victims since 1990 and have recovered over $750,000,000 for our clients. Lawsuits allege that IU trainers and coaches knew that Dr. Bomba was giving basketball players unnecessary prostate exams, but did nothing to stop it. We have handled many cases like this in the past, including cases involving sexual abuse at universities such as Ohio State, the University of Michigan, UCLA and the University of Southern California. We know how to hold universities responsible for failing to protect their students. Our extensive experience in this field will allow us to recover justice and the most compensation possible on your behalf.
We will handle your sexual abuse case on a contingency fee basis, which means that we will not charge you any fee until and unless we recover compensation for your sexual abuse. This means that the only thing you will be charged is a percentage of the compensation we recover for you, and you won’t be charged any upfront or out-of-pocket fees.
Call us today for a free, confidential case evaluation, text us from this page or fill out this page’s free case evaluation form if you or a loved one suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Dr. Brad Bomba Sr. at Indiana University.
IU Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Updates
January 14, 2025 Update
An additional defendant and an additional plaintiff have been added to a federal lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by Brad Bomba Sr.
Tim Garl, a long-time, current athletic trainer with Indiana men's basketball has been added as a defendant.
The lawsuit now alleges that Garl knew that Bomba was sexually assaulting players during examinations, yet continued assigning players to Bomba for exams where it is alleged that abuse occurred.
Indiana University has employed Garl as an athletic trainer for the men's basketball team since 1981.
John Flowers has been added as a plaintiff to the lawsuit. He played at the school from 1981 through 1983, and is the third ex-player that the lawsuit has named as a plaintiff.
The lawsuit alleges that Garl assigned Flowers to Bomba for an examination required for student athletes. The lawsuit alleges that Garl ended up laughing at Flowers regarding Bomba's digital rectal examinations.
The lawsuit alleges Garl knew that Bomba routinely gave athletes medically unnecessary digital rectal examinations, and knew these were unnecessary since he was a medical professional in the field of sports medicine since, at the latest, 1975.
Bomba, in testimony, invoked the Fifth Amendment regarding 45 questions in order to avoid incriminating himself.
October 15, 2024 Update
On the same day a lawsuit was filed by two former Indiana University men’s basketball players alleging sexual abuse at the hands of Dr. Brad Bomba Sr., a third player has leveled allegations of sexual abuse against the former team physician. The former player alleges he played for Bobby Knight’s Indiana University team in the 1990s and was subjected to “horrifically invasive,” unnecessary exams at the hands of Bomba. The lawsuit describes these exams as part of a “perverse rite of passage” and part of a “toxic culture” of silence, dehumanization and hazing.
October 15, 2024 Update
Two former Indiana University basketball players have filed a class action lawsuit against Indiana University. The lawsuit alleges that the players were repeatedly and routinely subjected to sexually abusive, invasive and medically unnecessary rectal examinations by Dr. Brad Bomba Sr. The lawsuit claims that Indiana University was aware of the abuse and did nothing about it, against federal law.
September 11, 2024 Update
Outside counsel has been engaged by Indiana University regarding allegations brought forward by a former member of the men’s basketball team against former team physician Brad Bomba Sr.
The former player played for IU multiple decades ago and alleges that during annual physicals with Bomba, he underwent inappropriate rectal and prostate exams. The former player alleges that all basketball players assigned to Bomba were subject to this practice.
Why Are People Filing Indiana University Lawsuits?
Lawsuits allege that Dr. Brad Bomba Sr., while a team physician for Indiana University’s men’s basketball team, subjected basketball players to medically unnecessary rectal and prostate exams. One of the former players suing Indiana University alleges that every basketball player who was assigned to Dr. Bomba was subject to this practice. The former players alleges that trainers and coaches at IU knew that this sexual abuse was taking place but didn’t do anything about it, going against federal law.
There may be over 100 hundred alleged victims in this developing litigation.
The American Cancer Society recommendation is that men at an average risk of developing prostate cancer have their first prostate exam at the age of 50. This recommendation is lowered to age 45 for men at high risk of prostate cancer, and age 40 for men at even higher risk of prostate cancer.
If you’re a victim of sexual abuse, contact a sexual abuse attorney today so we can help you recover the compensation you deserve and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Holding Indiana University Accountable
According to a lawsuit, the “routine” sexual assaults at the hands of Dr. Bomba were “openly discussed” by basketball players at IU in the locker room while IU employees, including athletic trainers, assistant coaches and other staff members, were present.
When universities know that their employees are sexually abusing students and fail to do anything about it, the universities can be held financially liable for this negligence in civil court. Lawsuits can then be filed against the universities seeking financial compensation for the harm they refused to prevent. Negligence is failing to exercise a reasonable amount of care in order to prevent harm from occurring. A reasonable person would do something to stop sexual abuse from occurring upon learning of it. Indiana University must be held accountable for their alleged negligence, and if you are a victim of Dr. Bomba, we can help you hold them accountable.
In addition to negligence, lawsuits allege Indiana University violated Title IX by acting indifferently to the sexual misconduct of Dr. Bomba.
A lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by Dr. Bomba names the Trustees of Indiana University as defendants.
Indiana University’s Response to the Allegations
On September 11, 2024, Indiana University released a statement regarding allegations against Dr. Bomba.
The statement said that the university received a letter from lawyers on behalf of a former IU men’s basketball player who alleged that Dr. Bomba subjected him to inappropriate rectal and prostate examinations during annual physicals. The player alleged that all basketball players who got assigned to this doctor were subjected to this practice.
According to the statement, in response to these allegations, the university retained a law firm to go forward with an independent review. This review will include engagement with medical experts, a review of all available documentation, and witness interviews in order to determine:
- Background facts related to Dr. Bomba’s annual physicals
- If Dr. Bomba’s conduct was necessary, within the standard of care or appropriate
- What officials or medical professionals knew about this conduct and what action they took, if warranted
According to this statement, the university will abide by the findings of the comprehensive, fully independent investigation and take any actions warranted.
Medical Sexual Abuse Is Common
It is not uncommon for patients to be sexually assaulted by their doctors. It is estimated by some reports that about five to 10 percent of physicians have sexually contacted patients in a boundary-violating manner. From January 2003 through September 2013, a total of 862 physicians saw disciplinary actions taken by state licensing boards due to sexual misconduct.
Numerous reports have come to the conclusion that sexual abuse in the healthcare field happens more often:
- In settings which are office-based
- By psychiatry practitioners
- Regarding primary care specialties
- During examinations of patients who are alone
A 2017 analysis found that sexual abuse ended up being repeated in 96 percent of cases of sexual abuse at the hands of physicians. The review found that 58 percent of the time, the abuse lasted over two years. What this means is that many patients who are abused by physicians are traumatized repeatedly, making it more difficult for them to seek help.
It’s all too common that people are taken advantage when vulnerable. Whether abuse happens at the hands of a physician, a loved one or during a strip search, try to have the courage to reach out for help. You deserve justice, and it’s important to speak out to ensure the perpetrator faces an appropriate punishment for their crimes.
How to File a Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against IU
Call us today for a free, confidential consultation if you or a loved one suffered from sexual abuse at the hands of Dr. Bomba while playing basketball for IU.
Our lawyers can help you if you want to file a lawsuit. We can guide you through the entire legal process. We can handle every step of the legal process for you and answer any questions you have along the way. We can gather evidence for you, put together a strong, convincing case for you and hold Indiana University responsible for turning a blind eye to Dr. Bomba’s abuse.
Proving Liability in an Indiana University Sexual Abuse Case
In sexual abuse lawsuits, in order to prove that a defendant is liable for the harm you suffered, you need to be able to establish negligence. For those who suffered sexual abuse at Indiana University, what comes into play here is negligent supervision.
As an employer, Indiana University knew or should have known that basketball players were at risk to being sexually abused by Dr. Bomba. The university may be held liable for sexual abuse occurring at Dr. Bomba’s hands if it can be proven that employees of the University, such as coaches, trainers and staff, ignored complaints by basketball players about Bomba’s abuse or ignored additional evidence of abuse. Overlooking reports or signs of abuse a single time can be considered negligent supervision.
Our sexual abuse lawyers can assist you with collecting the evidence necessary for a successful lawsuit. Call our sexual abuse attorneys today for a free, confidential consultation.
What Evidence Do I Need to Win My IU Lawsuit?
Victims of sexual assault at the hands of Dr. Bomba at IU can prove negligent supervision if they can establish:
- Dr. Bomba was unfit to be a team doctor for IU per their job description or hiring contract
- Indiana University knew or should have known Dr. Bomba was incompetent, unsuitable or worse
- Dr. Bomba sexually abused a men’s basketball player
- This abuse led to emotional or physical damages to the basketball player
Our sexual abuse lawyers will prove that the harm you endured would not have taken place if Indiana University upheld the duty of care they had by taking reasonable steps in order to prevent your sexual abuse. Contact an attorney today and we’ll help you attain the settlement you deserve.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
Every sexual abuse case is different. The amount of compensation available to a victim of sexual abuse will depend on the specific circumstances involved in their individual case.
The amount of financial compensation available in a sexual abuse lawsuit will depend upon what damages were suffered by the plaintiff. Damages which sexual abuse victims can recover compensation for include:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are verifiable financial losses which are objectively calculable. Economic damages in a sexual abuse case might include:
- Therapy
- Medical bills
- Loss of wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Mental health counseling
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are damages which can’t be objectively calculated and are subjective. Non-economic damages in a sexual abuse case might include:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Humiliation
- Inconvenience
- Loss of society
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages get awarded in civil lawsuits when malicious, oppressive or fraudulent actions occur. Punitive damages are intended to punish defendants for the conduct and deter others from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
How Long Do I Have to File an IU Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
Sexual abuse victims often wait before calling lawyers. This is because sexual abuse is one of the most painful, humiliating, hardest things for them to have endured in their life. If possible, they would rather choose to take their memories, lock them away and ever have to deal with them.
Many abuse victims experience issues like alcohol and drug problems, failed relationships and lost jobs. Only following years of experiencing these issues do they realize that the reason for these issues was the sexual abuse they suffered many years ago.
By the time they call an attorney, unfortunately, a lot of the time the time limit to file a lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations, has expired.
Under IC 34-11-2-2, victims of sexual abuse in Indiana have two years to file a lawsuit “after the cause of action accrues.
However, there are many limitations and exceptions to this rule. You can’t simply rely upon that two year time limit. Many sexual abuse victims who call us have delayed calling an attorney because they did internet research, concluding that their statute of limitations expired already. Don’t get caught in this trap. Because limitations and exceptions exist to the two year time limit in Indiana, you need to call an experienced sexual abuse lawyer since this is a very difficult, complex area of law. Internet research isn’t always correct. You need an attorney who understands complexities regarding the statute of limitations. Don’t attempt to do this all yourself. Hire a lawyer and let us investigate your case.
At Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, we will not charge you for you to call us, or even for you to set an appointment to let us investigate your case to see if you’re still eligible to bring a case against IU.
It can take quite a while to gather evidence and put together a strong, convincing sexual abuse case. Calling us today gives us the best opportunity possible to put together a strong case on your behalf and make sure any paperwork gets filed in a timely manner, preserving your legal right to compensation.
Contact an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney Today
We have been handling sexual abuse cases, including sexual abuse cases against major universities, since 1990 and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of clients. Our vast experience in handling sexual abuse cases similar to yours will allow us to recover justice on your behalf as well as the most financial compensation possible.
Call us today for a free, confidential consultation. Remember: we won’t charge you any fee to handle your abuse case until and unless we obtain a recovery on your behalf.
