Partner Megan Bonanni Quoted in Detroit Free Press on MSU Sexual Assault Allegations
Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers Partner Megan Bonanni spoke with the Detroit Free Press about the criminal sexual assault allegations facing Michigan State University’s former resident physician Arpit Saxena. Megan has extensive experience representing survivors of sexual assault and institutional abuse, including survivors of former MSU physician Larry Nassar. She currently represents hundreds of clients in cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct by medical professionals in Michigan, California, and Washington state. Drawing on this experience, Megan discussed the allegations and the broader concerns they raise about patient safety and institutional accountability.
A woman first reported an alleged assault to campus police in April 2025, but MSU did not remove Saxena from patient care until four days later. Criminal charges followed 16 months after the initial report, raising questions about the university’s response and the timeline of the investigation. Saxena, who treated 105 patients during his residency, now faces four criminal sexual conduct charges involving two former patients.
Megan discussed how sexual abuse in medical settings can go unreported because of the trust patients place in their physicians. “The abuse is permitted because of this deep trust that patients have with their physicians,” Megan told the Detroit Free Press.
She also addressed the risks associated with physicians having private access to patients without another medical professional present, emphasizing the importance of safeguards to protect patients from misconduct.
As details of the Saxena case continue to emerge, Megan emphasized the importance of encouraging potential additional survivors to come forward. She pointed to MSU police’s decision to establish a hotline as a positive step, noting that publicly inviting individuals to report abuse can play an important role in the healing process.
For survivors, coming forward may also open the door to pursuing accountability through the civil justice system. Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers brings decades of experience in complex civil rights and institutional accountability litigation to its work representing survivors of sexual abuse. The firm is committed to helping survivors understand their legal options and pursue civil claims against individuals and institutions responsible for their harm.