Former IU athlete included in lawsuit against university claiming sexual abuse
A former Indiana University basketball player, Larry Richardson Jr., is the latest to join a motion for leave to file a second amended class action lawsuit against the school. Richardson Jr. alleges that an athletic doctor performed inappropriate and unnecessary prostate and rectal exams during his annual physicals. He is not alone in these accusations, as he is joined by players Haris Mujezinovic, Charlie Miller, and John Flowers, who all claim to have been sexually abused by former team physician Dr. Brad Bomba Sr. during their time at IU.
Dr. Brad Bomba Sr. served as the IU men’s basketball team physician for nearly 30 years and also worked with the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team under former IU head men’s basketball coach Bob Knight. Despite the accusations, both Bomba Sr. and longtime IU head men’s basketball trainer Tim Garl do not currently face any criminal charges. Garl is being sued for his alleged involvement in what the lawsuit describes as Bomba Sr.’s “wrongful conduct.”
The lawsuit brought forth by these former players states that the sexual abuse they endured violated their equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and their rights under Title IX. The complaint highlights IU’s failure to take effective preventative measures, allowing Bomba Sr.’s behavior to persist and causing harm to students. The plaintiffs allege that IU’s inaction perpetuated a policy of deliberate indifference towards Bomba Sr.’s sexual misconduct.
Former players Mujezinovic and Miller initially filed their class action complaint in October 2024, followed by an amended complaint in January 2025 with Flowers joining. Richardson’s addition to the lawsuit aims to assert state law tort claims against IU, add specific allegations of a player reporting abuse in 1979, and make other necessary amendments to the complaint.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages on behalf of all former IU men’s basketball players who were allegedly sexually assaulted by Bomba Sr. during their time at the university. Those who wish to report incidents can reach out to the Jones Day hotline for further assistance, with the option to remain anonymous. The complaint sheds light on the pervasive issue of sexual abuse and misconduct in athletics and emphasizes the importance of holding accountable those responsible for such heinous acts.
