Gymnastics Team Sexual Assault Lawyer

In 2023, 4.76 million Americans engaged in gymnastics [1]. While not as popular as other youth sports, high-profile gymnasts like 16-year-old Hezly Rivera make many young girls dream of being a woman warrior on the biggest stage of all: the Olympics [2].

Unfortunately, these children may become victims of sexual abuse should a predatory individual notice them. 

Gymnastics sexual abuse causes lifelong emotional consequences. This form of betrayal committed by coaches, trainers, doctors, and other professionals can leave young victims with psychological scars that never heal, preventing them from enjoying a sport that meant so much to them.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we help gymnastics sexual abuse victims and their families pursue legal action, an essential and empowering part of holding a perpetrator accountable. 

The Role of a Gymnastics Team Sexual Assault Lawyer

A dedicated sexual assault attorney from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is indispensable in navigating the legal system. We passionately advocate for the safety of your child while securing the compensation your family deserves, protecting you throughout the legal and healing process.

Expertise and Specialization

Our sexual abuse attorneys have a proven track record of success thanks to our expertise in these cases. We have years of experience handling cases involving major organizations, whether sports organizations or religious institutions, and understand their tactics to avoid accountability. 

Additionally, we’re well-versed in laws related to a sexual abuse case and can seamlessly navigate these cases’ challenges.

Investigation and Evidence Gathering

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we pride ourselves on our meticulous investigation skills. Our legal team will gather evidence to bolster your case, including medical treatment records, professional therapist reports, and private electronic communication related to the case, to create a clear picture of the events.

Additionally, we will review the organizational policies and procedures related to sexual abuse, such as whether the organization required doctors and coaches to have a medical assistant present when examining children.

We understand how traumatizing sexual abuse is for victims, so we use a caring and compassionate approach to interviewing all victims, witnesses, and their families to create a strong case without causing more harm. 

Advocacy and Support for Survivors

Our primary goal in gaining justice for victims and holding responsible parties accountable is to help you and your family heal with the compensation you need to move on.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers’ process balances the needs of the sexual abuse victim with the civil court process. We will handle the paperwork and negotiate on your behalf so you can focus on recovery, protecting you from re-traumatization. 

We want to ensure those who are sexually abused receive adequate counseling and have all the support they need to heal, so we will check in with you and guide you to appropriate resources for your needs.

Additionally, we fiercely advocate for and represent survivors in court, ensuring their stories are told, and they receive the compassion they deserve from the legal system.

Gymnastics Sexual Assault Statistics

One of the most well-known examples of gymnastics abuse is that of Larry Nassar, a gymnastics coach who worked with both Olympic athletes and young students of lower-level competitive gymnastics. 

Once sexual abuse survivors came forward, Nassar was hit with a flood of serious charges. In 2017, Nassar was convicted of federal child pornography charges [3]. In 2018, Nassar pled guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual abuse in the first degree and was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison [4]. Shortly after, Nassar was convicted of three more counts of criminal sexual conduct with a maximum sentence of 125 years [5]. 

Since then, over 300 sexual assault victims have come forward to share their stories, with the youngest victim being just eight years old at the time of the abuse [6]. 

While one might assume Larry Nassar was simply one man, the long-term and heinous nature of this case demonstrates that numerous institutions, including USA Gymnastics and the USA Olympics Committee, failed to prevent sexual abuse as far back as 1992 [7]. 

For example, Michigan State University’s Dean of Osteopathic Medicine failed to ensure Nassar was following new rules that required there be at least two adults present for sensitive procedures. He was subsequently ordered to spend one year in jail [8]. 

A subsequent survey of student-athletes around the country found that 25% of respondents reported being sexually harassed or assaulted by someone in a position of authority.  Most said that coaches were most likely to be the abuser, but sports doctors and other support staff could also be to blame [9].

In a more recent scandal, it was found that Ohio State University refused to act despite clear evidence that the late Dr. Richard Strauss was molesting male patients, including gymnastics students, between the 1970s and 1990s [10]. It is estimated that before he died in 2005, Strauss committed 1,429 sexual assaults and 47 rapes [11]. 

These sexual abuse cases demonstrate that major institutions, including the US Olympic Committee, ignored widespread child sexual abuse, putting thousands of innocent athletes at risk for lifelong problems. 

The Centers for Disease Control notes that sexual trauma can severely impact a survivor’s mental and physical health for decades, including causing substance abuse issues and cardiovascular problems [12]. 

Identifying Liable Parties in Gymnastics Team Sexual Assault Cases

Institutional sexual abuse like that in gymnastics organizations may implicate numerous parties, as many may have been privy to the abuse but have done nothing to stop it. Our legal team will ensure that all liable parties are held accountable.

Coaches and Instructors

Coaches and instructors, being the ones who spend the most time with athletes, are often the ones who perpetrate sexual abuse. 

Team Doctors and Medical Professionals

Doctors and other medical professionals are mandated reporters and must disclose any potential sexual abuse to the authorities. If they fail to do so, they can be held liable. 

Gymnastics Organizations

Organizations that oversee gymnastics clubs or teams must be actively engaged, providing necessary oversight to prevent sexual abuse or exploitation. However, they may create a culture of silence and enable abuse because they don’t want to lose prestige or because they believe the instructors are too valuable to lose as partners.

Other Potentially Liable Parties

Any organization, association, or official who knows about gymnastics sexual abuse is professionally and morally obligated to report the issue to the proper authorities and demand a full investigation. However, many fail to act out of fear of losing funding or damaging professional relationships, making them culpable.

Types of Damages Sexual Abuse Victims Can Claim

For a gymnastics sexual abuse civil case, seeking justice involves gaining compensation for the trauma that the victim endured. These damages can encompass several elements, from financial losses to emotional harm.

Compensatory Damages

• Medical bills
• Therapy and counseling expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning potential

Punitive Damages

These damages are meant to punish the perpetrator and ensure they do not re-offend. The courts award them, but they may only apply in some cases. 

The Legal Process for Gymnastics Team Sexual Abuse Cases

Our gymnastics sexual abuse attorneys will guide you through all aspects of your case, including filing all necessary paperwork and negotiations.

Reporting the Abuse

First, you should report the abuse to law enforcement and the relevant sports organizations. If necessary, you may also need to involve child protective services. 

After you have reported the abuse to the proper authorities, contact us immediately so we can begin developing your case and gathering strong evidence. 

Filing a Civil Lawsuit

When filing a lawsuit, we will identify who is liable and name them in a complaint, along with the alleged gymnastics sexual abuse that occurred. We’ll determine what statutes of limitations apply and ensure we have adequate time to pursue a case.

Discovery Process

During this step, we will gather evidence, such as medical reports or private communications, and complete witness depositions. We will also send interrogatories, which are questions sent to the named party, to gather more details. 

Settlement Negotiations

To spare victims of sexual abuse from the rigors of a trial, we attempt to settle out of court first. We constantly push for maximum compensation and are familiar with the tactics organizations use to reduce your settlement, using our strong negotiation skills to hold them accountable.

Trial

In some cases, reaching a settlement is impossible, and we will file a lawsuit to ensure you receive fair compensation. We will present the case facts before a judge or jury, providing all the evidence we have gathered and ensuring your story is heard. During this process, we’ll remain communicative and balance your participation with your need for healing. 

You Have Limited Time to File a Sexual Assault Claim

The statute of limitations will vary by jurisdiction. For child sexual abuse, there is often a longer statute of limitations, as courts understand that children may not immediately disclose what has happened to them. However, it’s essential to act fast to ensure we have time to file a lawsuit if necessary. You should call us as soon as possible after you learn of the sexual abuse. 

Contact a Caring Gymnastics Team Sexual Assault Attorney

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is committed to helping all sexual abuse survivors get justice through a civil legal process. We have recovered millions for our clients and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we win.

To schedule a free consultation, call us 24/7 at (888) 424-5757 or use our online contact form. 

References: [1] Statista, [2] Reuters, [3] DePaul Journal of Sports Law, [4] Michigan Department of Attorney General, [5] DePaul Journal of Sports Law, [6] Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, [7] DePaul Journal of Sports Law, [8] DePaul Journal of Sports Law, [9] WYPR, [10] NBC News, [11] NBC News, [12] Centers for Disease Control