Berman Seeks Liability For Failed Criminal Sexual Investigations

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — State Rep. Ryan Berman introduced legislation on Thursday that would hold governmental agencies, including public universities accountable for failing to address sexual misconduct, according to a news release.

The bill specifies that these agencies and institutions would be held civilly liable if they failed to take action to prevent a known abuser from committing further criminal sexual conduct, according to the news release.

In addition, another piece of legislation previously introduced by State Rep. Karen Whitsett would extend the statute of limitations in certain circumstances to give victims of criminal sexual conduct greater opportunity to sue.

"Our bipartisan plan will allow survivors of abuse to seek justice for their suffering," Berman said. "We cannot reverse the past, but we can help survivors obtain their day in court to seek justice for what they endured."

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Berman's bill was drafted after revelations of the repeated abuse by Dr. Robert Anderson of the University of Michigan, according to the news release.

"These survivors bravely shared their harrowing stories with the Legislature and the world," Berman said. "Their impactful testimony is a clarion call for legislative action, and we must not let them down."