Latest News

KTVU News: O.B. Whaley School named in Molestation Claim

Published on: August 28, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

KTVU Channel Two is reporting on the child molestation claim filed against Evergreen Elementary School District over its handling of the molestation of students by O.B. Whaley Elementary School teacher Craig Chandler and the failure of the principal to report suspected sexual abuse.

KTVU reports the principal has been reassigned to the district offices while attorney Robert Allard revealed that Chandler had yard supervisors and others bring children into his classroom during recess or the lunch hour for the purpose of molesting the kids.

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.

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Swim Coach Rick Curl Faces Permanent Ban

Published on: July 25, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The Washington Post is reporting today that swim coach Rick Curl of the Curl-Burke Swim Club faces a permanent ban following allegations that Curl molested a 13-year-old girl beginning in 1983. The former swimmer produced a settlement agreement, signed by Curl, in which Curl agreed to pay her $150,000 for remaining silent about being molested. The Washington Post reports that USA Swimming has called for an emergency hearing before its National Board of Review to consider banning Curl for life.

Attorney Robert Allard of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, who represents the victim, says 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 last month’s U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha on a coaching credential.

Noah Rucker, a 39-year-old coach affiliated with the Curl-Burke Swim Club, was arrested last month on three counts of illegal sexual contact with a swimmer he had coached more than a decade earlier at Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia.

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OB Whaley Elementary School Principal Charged with Enabling Alleged Child Molester Craig Chandler

Published on: July 10, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Law enforcement authorities are charging O.B. Whaley Elementary School Principal Lyn Vijayendran with failing to report a child molestation complaint against alleged child molester Craig Chandler. Chandler taught at O.B. Whaley Elementary School, Evergreen School District, for nine years. Chandler was arrested in January 2012 and is currently facing charges stemming from the alleged molestation of five children from his second- and third-grade class.

Child molestation victims’ rights attorney Robert Allard, of the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard in San Jose, CA, is currently representing the families of children molested by a daycare worker at Trace Elementary School CDC along with families of children molested by teachers, athletic coaches and a Silicon Valley executive.

Mr. Allard issued the following statement:

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Assemblyman Jim Beall and Molestation Victim Attorney Robert Allard Working to Strengthen California Child Molestation Laws

Published on: April 10, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

A Commitment to Enact Child Molestation Laws Favorable to Victims

California Assemblyman Jim Beall is announcing proposed legislation that would strengthen California’s child molestation laws.

The legislation was introduced with input from child molestation victims’ rights attorney Robert Allard and victims of USA Swimming coaching molestation.

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USOC Continues to Address Child Sexual Abuse Reports

Published on: March 18, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

More than one year after molestation victim attorney Robert Allard brought forth legal claims against USA Swimming and exposed the problem of child molestation in its coaching ranks, the US Olympic Committee (USOC) is finally following through on its recommendation to standardize child molestation policies among its National Governing Bodies.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has distributed a new handbook, “Recognizing, Reducing and Responding to Misconduct in Sport: Creating Your Strategy”, to ensure safer training environments.

The USOC formed a task force last year which recommended that national governing bodies adopt standardized policies following a number of sexual abuse and molestation cases against USA Swimming filed by a legal team led by attorney Robert Allard.

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More Craig Chandler Victims in San Jose Teacher Molestation Case

Published on: March 6, 2012 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Accused child molester Craig Richard Chandler, an elementary school teacher at San Jose’s O.B. Whaley Elementary School is reportedly facing additional molestation charges according to a report this weekend in the San Jose Mercury News.

Child molestation victims’ right attorney Robert Allard points out that, sadly, statistics show that over a third of all sexual assaults in California and the United States involved a victim who was under the age of 12. Hopefully, the victims in this case involving Craig Chandler will come forward and take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that this does not happen again, not only at this but other schools, so that children are protected.

The newspaper reports that three more young girls came forward and accused Craig Chandler of molesting them. Chandler taught a combined second- and third-grade class at O.B. Whaley Elementary School which is part of the Evergreen School District.

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