On June 27, 2024, Michigan’s House of Representatives passed House Bills (HB) 4485, 4486, and 4487. The three proposed pieces of legislation introduce key changes to current laws in hopes of removing barriers to justice for survivors of sexual assault, such as removing the statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct and curtailing government immunity so that public education institutions – like Michigan State University and The University of Michigan – could be held accountable for their inactions in preventing sexual abuse by their staff members and on their campuses. Plaintiffs would also no longer need to file ‘notice of intent’ to pursue legal action.
Details of the three important pieces of sexual abuse survivor legislation:
- HB 4485: Removed the statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct; criminal indictment can be discovered and brought forth regardless of the survivor’s age.
- HB 4486: Limits governmental immunity given to public universities, colleges, and schools in situations where the institute knew or should have known about previous transgressions or a history of criminal sexual conduct perpetrated by an employee, representative, or student and the institute failed to act or intervene and as such failed to prevent subsequent acts of criminal sexual conduct; changes limited solely to criminal sexual conduct; retroactively applies to any previous incidents as well.
- HB 4487: Removes provisions that require notice of intent for litigation against the state; changes limited solely to criminal sexual conduct; retroactively applies to any previous incidents as well.
Two of the State’s premier public education institutes, Michigan State University and The University of Michigan, both faced heavy scrutiny in their handling of sexual abuse allegations against former their employees, MSU doctor Larry Nassar and UofM doctor Robert Anderson. Despite multiple reports of sexual abuse made to mandatory reporters and even to the Title IX offices, both institutions failed to take action to prevent further criminal sexual conduct and abuse.
The House Bills, should they become law, would mean significant strides in justice for survivors, primarily by making it simpler to hold certain institutions accountable for failing to act or intentionally hiding reports of abuse. Removing these barriers in pursuing litigation serves to hold public institutions to a higher standard of practice and to establish serious consequences should they fail in their duty.
Grewal Law PLLC Continues the Fight for Sexual Abuse Survivors
The bills follow recent efforts in advocacy for expanding legal recourses for survivors of sexual abuse, not just in Michigan but throughout the country. Earlier this year, the DOJ settled for nearly $139 million in a class action lawsuit with 139 survivors of former USA Gymnastics doctor and Michigan State University employee Larry Nassar; in this landmark case, 44 of those plaintiffs represented by Grewal Law PLLC.
Grewal Law PLLC is a nationally recognized trial practice with a legacy of fighting for survivors of sexual abuse and assault. Led and backed by award-winning trial lawyers, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for survivors and secured notable victories in high-profile cases against powerful institutions, including Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, and the DOJ in the historic Larry Nassar cases, as well as the University of Michigan for survivors of Robert Anderson. Put simply, the trauma-informed attorneys at Grewal Law advocate for transparency, accountability, and justice for all survivors.
If you have questions about civil sexual abuse lawsuits and your legal options, we offer FREE and confidential consultations to survivors across Michigan and beyond. Call (888) 211-5798 or contact us online to request yours.
