Coach Sexual Abuse

Youth Soccer Sex Abuse Settlement Promises to Make the Sport Safer for Children

Published on: September 18, 2018 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Two youth soccer organizations, with a major presence in the San Francisco Bay Area, are conducting background checks on coaches. This follows a record-setting $8.2 million settlement for a young girl sexually molested by her youth soccer league coach.

“This is why we represent child sex abuse victims,” said Attorney Robert Allard. “The money will provide the young victim with the means to survive the lifelong effects of childhood sexual abuse while at the same time forcing youth sports organizations to protect kids better,” added Allard.

In May of 2011, West Valley Youth Soccer League coach Emanuele Fabrizio sexually abused a 12-year-old player. After pleading no contest to the sexual abuse charges, Fabrizio is serving 15 years in prison.

Continue reading →

Lawsuit Charges USA Swimming Responsible for Sex Abuse of Olympian Ariana Kukors Smith

Published on: May 23, 2018 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Olympian Ariana Kukors Smith, in a lawsuit filed in California, alleges that her swim coach sexually abused her as a minor, and that the sport’s governing body covered up the abuse. Attorney Robert Allard, representing Kukors Smith, is suing USA Swimming for the abuse she alleges she suffered by her swim coach, Sean Hutchison. Mr. Allard was joined at the press conference to announce the lawsuit by legal team members attorney Ray Mendoza and sex crimes investigator Michael Leininger.

The lawsuit claims USA Swimming manipulated background check procedures as a method of covering up Hutchison’s actions and mishandled the investigation into the allegations against the swim coach.

Kukors Smith is a 2012 Olympian. Mr. Allard stated in a press conference that the goal of the lawsuit was to force USA Swimming to “accept responsibility for allowing, and in fact, enabling a known predator coach to molest for almost a decade sexually, my client Ariana Smith…”

Continue reading →

USA Swimming Sexual Abuse Resignations

Published on: February 22, 2018 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

It has taken nearly eight years, but the efforts of attorney Robert Allard along with numerous advocates and athletes to rid the sport of swimming of sexual abuse are starting to pay off. With reports that almost 600 USA Swimmers have been sexually abused by coaches and officials, USA Swimming today announced the resignations of two key employees, Club Development Managing Director Pat Hogan and Safe Sport Director Susan Woessner.

Hogan was one of the top leaders in the organization. But he also was part of the culture that enabled the sexual abuse of young athletes to take place over many decades. Hogan married the very swimmer he once coached, proclaiming that she was 18 when he married her. He also provided cover for admitted pedophile and former USA National Team Director Everett Uchiyama. It was Hogan who provided Uchiyama with a glowing job recommendation with a Colorado Springs County Club after Uchiyama secretly resigned over sexual abuse allegations.

ABC’s Brian Ross and 20/20 expose the USA Swimming sexual abuse scandal.

Continue reading →

USA Swimming Sex Abuse Scandal

Published on: February 20, 2018 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

An explosive report from the Orange County Register claims that a culture inside USA Swimming allowed the sexual abuse of 600 young swimmers by more than 250 coaches. Investigative reporter Scott Reid, longtime reporter of Olympic sports and one of the first to document sexual abuse inside USA Gymnastics, reports that “USA Swimming board members and coaches were aware of statutory rape cases that occurred during U.S. national team trips to major international competitions.”

The news article also states that “top USA Swimming executives, board members, top officials, and coaches acknowledge in the documents that they were aware of sexually predatory coaches for years, in some cases even decades, but did not take action against them.”

100s of USA swimmers were sexually abused for decades and the people in charge knew and ignored it, investigation finds

Continue reading →

Protect Your Child From Coaching Sex Abuse

Published on: June 3, 2016 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Tips to keep your child safe from coaching sex abuse at USA Swimming clubs and YMCA pools

Despite recent stories of USA Swimming coaching sex abuse, swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports, and the success of famous athletes such as Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin inspires children across the nation to start swim lessons with USA Swimming Clubs, YMCA programs, or municipal summer recreation pools. All too frequently, however, coaches abuse their close relationships with young athletes, and take sexual advantage of them. The problem of coaching sex abuse is worsened when the supervising organization, rather than taking steps to protect the victim and any other children under its care, tries to preserve its reputation by covering up the actions of the coach turned predator.

One of the biggest coaching sex abuse scandals in youth athletics in recent years continues to involve USA Swimming. So far, over a hundred coaches working for USA Swimming’s member clubs have been permanently banned from the sport for molesting, groping, and secretly filming the young athletes under their care.

Continue reading →

Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed as a Result of Molestation by Wrestling Coach

Published on: December 27, 2015 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed against San Ramon Unified School District Due to Molestation by Wrestling Coach

District officials allegedly failed to detect predatory grooming behavior for over ten years, giving coach the opportunity to molest.

The San Jose, California law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has filed a childhood sexual abuse lawsuit against the San Ramon Unified School District, New Life Church of Alamo and convicted predator and former California High School wrestling coach Kevin Lopez.

Continue reading →

Rick Curl Charged with Sex Abuse of Former Swimmer

Published on: October 26, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Update: May 23, 2013

Rick Curl was sentenced to 7 years in prison for the sexual abuse of Kelley Davies Currin more than 30 years ago. Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Marielsa Bernard imposed a 15-year sentence, with all but seven years suspended. The Judge thought it was important to send a message that criminals will be held accountable no matter when they’re caught. More on the sentencing as reported by the Washington Post.

Update: February 21, 2013

Continue reading →

Michael Phelps’ NBAC Removes Coach Accused of Sexual Abuse

Published on: October 8, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

A former student of a high-level coach with ties to the North Baltimore Aquatic Club recently came forward with sexual abuse allegations against that coach. These allegations resulted in the coach’s resignation, the club taking unprecedented action, and USA Swimming seemingly taking steps to protect the coach.

Here is Tim Joyce’s original story, removed twice by WBAL in Baltimore. The news director offered an explanation for the first removal but not for the permanent removal.

Swimming Coach Accused Of Molestation At North Baltimore Aquatic Club

Continue reading →

Rick Curl Banned from USA Swimming

Published on: September 19, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Former Olympic Coach Rick Curl has been banned permanently from USA Swimming, apparently giving up his fight on the day of his National Board of Review hearing. Curl is now listed with some 60+ coaches on the USA Swimming list of banned coaches and individuals.

Kelley Davies Currin came forward publicly earlier this year with a signed settlement agreement with Curl’s signature in which Curl agreed to pay her $150,000 in return for not going to law enforcement for allegedly molesting her starting when she was 13 years old in 1983.

Attorney Robert Allard who represents the victim has said from the onset that USA Swimming has known about Curl for years. Curl was referenced in the Jane Doe amended lawsuit filed in March of 2010. Despite USA Swimming having knowledge of Curl’s rumored past, Curl attended this years U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha on a coaching credential.

Continue reading →

USA Swimming Continues to Face Coaching Sexual Abuse Scrutiny

Published on: August 21, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

While former Curl-Burke coaches Todd Rucker and Rick Curl await a decision from USA Swimming that would permanently ban them from coaching for their alleged sexual abuse of athletes, more USA Swimming coaches continue to violate their position of authority and allegedly molest young swimmers. Swim blogger Braden Keith reports that Stephen Steele from Florida has been added to USA Swimming’s Banned for Life list, with the suspension effective just over a month ago and his 30-day appeal period having expired. Steele reportedly recently competed in the Florida Sunshine Games for the St. Cloud Aquatic Team.

Journalist Irvin Muchnick reports on more coaches charged with illegal sex abuse. In a lengthy story, which has since been removed, Muchnick questions whether USA Swimming is doing enough to prevent the sexual abuse of female athletes.

Journalist Tim Joyce questions whether the USA Swimming scandal is worse than Penn State.

Continue reading →