Gymnastics is supposed to be an escape for young people; a sport that focuses on individual excellence but takes place in a team setting. When people in a position of power betray these children’s trust or put them in danger, the consequences are devastating.
If your loved one is a survivor of sexual abuse in gymnastics organizations, it is time to seek the help of skilled legal professionals. The sexual abuse lawyers at Phillips Law Group can help you seek justice while treating your family with the compassion it deserves.
Gymnastics organizations have a duty to protect the athletes in their care. Young gymnasts often train for long hours in environments that involve close physical contact and a high degree of trust. When coaches, trainers, or even other parents break that trust, the results can be life-changing.
It is natural to want justice from the abuser in these situations, but there might be other parties who are also to blame. Gymnastics organizations could also be found liable for the abuse if they allowed it to occur under their watch. This might occur when they fail to screen employees carefully or ignore past reports of troubling behavior. In extreme cases, these organizations might attempt to cover up allegations in order to protect their public image and remain in operation. Our firm is focused on holding these groups accountable.
Our first step following allegations of sexual abuse within a gymnastics organization is to identify every party who was responsible. This could include national governing bodies, local clubs, and affiliated training facilities, among others. Survivors have a right to file a civil suit against any of these entities when they played a role in the abuse.
In the aftermath of sexual abuse, there could be both criminal and civil court proceedings stemming from the same incident. Criminal charges are brought by the state and can end in jail time, fines, and other consequences. These cases can move forward regardless of whether the survivor wants to participate or not. The government has to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in order to get a conviction.
A civil case, by contrast, is brought by the survivor. Its purpose is to seek financial compensation for the harm caused by the sexual abuse. The burden of proof is lower than in a criminal case, giving you the chance to move forward with a lawsuit even if criminal charges have never been filed.
Civil lawsuits also allow survivors to pursue claims against institutions, such as gymnastics organizations, for negligent hiring, supervision, or retention. More often than not, criminal proceedings focus on the abuser. That said, there are times when the behavior of an organization is so extreme that it rises to the level of a crime.
In a sexual abuse lawsuit against a gymnastics organization, damages are generally divided into economic and non-economic categories. Economic damages compensate a survivor for their measurable financial losses, like their medical bills or therapy costs. Non-economic damages address the emotional and psychological impact of the abuse. Both forms of compensation are an important part of an injury claim. Some of the specific types of damages that might be available include:
Our attorneys can answer your questions about the types of damages you might be able to recover.
No one should ever have to face the reality of sexual abuse in gymnastics organizations. When the unthinkable happens, Phillips Law Group is here to help. Call today for a private consultation.
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