DETROIT _ Legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler was told by a student in 1982 about sexual assaults being carried out by then-football team doctor Robert Anderson, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.
The suit alleges the student _ who is filing as an unnamed "John Doe" _ told Schembechler he was digitally penetrated by Anderson during an exam for migraines.
"The revelations involving the failure to act on the part of Bo Schembechler are troubling but should not be surprising," attorney Jamie White said. "We have seen this trend play out with institutions all over the country, including but not limited to (Penn State football coach Joe) Paterno, leadership in the Catholic Church and Boy Scouts of America, and most recently Michigan State University.
"The Schembechler revelations are going to be disturbing to many but the university will not heal and be able to move forward from this horrific period until there is a complete accounting of what went wrong."
The suit says Schembechler told the student to report the assaults to then-athletic director Don Canham, who took no known action on the report. There's no indication whether Schembechler followed up. Anderson remained the football team doctor for decades following the report.
All three men are now dead. Canham died in 2005. Schembechler in 2006. Anderson, 2008.
The university announced earlier this year that it was investigating allegations of abuse by Anderson. Numerous men have come forward publicly and in lawsuits to allege that Anderson molested them during medical exams during his decades-long career as a physician for the school's athletic teams and at the university's health service.
The university on Thursday in response to the lawsuit referenced an independent investigation by the law firm WilmerHale. The investigation has been paused by a federal judge, who is sorting out whether it interferes with the lawsuits and court procedures.
"At the University of Michigan, we condemn all sexual misconduct. This type of conduct is reprehensible _ and whether it takes place now or took place in the past, it is unacceptable," spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said.
"We have great confidence in the WilmerHale investigation, which has been paused by the court. More than 50 former patients of Anderson have contacted WilmerHale and are awaiting a response. We believe the investigation should restart immediately.
"Through July 23, there have been 394 unique complaints regarding Anderson that are being investigated by the WilmerHale team."
