USA Gymnastics Team Members Get Their Day in Court
The USA gymnastics team won medals and our hearts during the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, with big personalities like Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Gabby Douglas. Unfortunately, they—among dozens and dozens of others—are back in the news with the sentencing of team doctor Larry Nassar during his sentencing hearing January 16.
Nassar, a 54-year-old former sports medicine doctor at Michigan State University who also worked for USA Gymnastics, pleaded guilty in November 2017 to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct. He admitted in court to assaults all the way back to 1998, victimizing girls allegedly as young as six years old, under the guise of treating them. As part of plea deals, he admitted that his conduct served no medical purpose and he did not have any of the girls’ consent. The case shook the sports world, as 125 girls and women have filed reports of abuse by Nassar, with more stepping up (most recently Simone Biles).
The Michigan court holding his sentencing hearing set aside an unprecedented four days for victim impact statements due to the scores of victims and their parents prepared to speak in court about the impact Nassar’s sexual abuse has had on their lives. Some have criticized both Michigan State and USA Gymnastics for turning a blind eye to the abuse and allowing it to continue.
This sentencing comes on the heels of a 2016 bombshell investigation by the Indianapolis Star, uncovering that 368 gymnasts alleged some sort of sexual assault or abuse at the hands of a coach, trainer, or other adult in gymnastics over the past two decades. As the investigation points out, that’s one gymnast every 20 days, and those numbers are only the abuses that are reported. The investigation uncovered some troubling findings—some that appeared to match up with victim statements about institutions ignoring the predatory practices of abusers:
- Some gym owners quietly fire coaches accused of abuse but do not warn future employers of accusations, thus allowing them to continue working with the public.
- Some coaches are continually fired from gyms, yet go on working with elite athletes because USA Gymnastics has no system to track or flag accused abusers.
- Several victims have alleged that they felt pressured to keep their claims quiet in order to protect the sport’s image.
At least 107 girls and women are currently involved in civil lawsuits targeting USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. USA Gymnastics has recently adopted a series of reforms to better respond and react to abuse allegations. They also stated they will not uphold a monetary penalty against Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney for speaking out about her sexual abuse. Maroney had signed a non-disclosure agreement in 2016 after settling a suit with USA Gymnastics and Nassar.
Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina had words of comfort for Nassar’s sexual assault victims: “I wish my robe came with a magic wand so I can wave it over you and heal you.”
Adults in a position of power sometimes prey on children who have earned their trust. And sometimes an organization fails to act. Let us help you and your family. Our legal team provides compassionate and experienced representation. Contact the attorneys at Taylor & Ring today at 310.776.6390 or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in the Los Angeles and the Southern California area.
David Ring is a nationally renowned plaintiff’s personal injury trial attorney and has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of seriously-injured individuals or families who have lost a loved one in a tragic accident. For more than 20 years, he has represented victims of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, assault, molestation and sexual misconduct in cases against a variety of employers and entities, including schools, churches and youth organizations.
He prides himself on providing aggressive, yet compassionate representation for children who have been sexually abused and women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted. Read more about David M. Ring.