Youth Sports Sexual Abuse Lawyer
As a parent, it is not possible to think that someone you trusted to care for your child put your loved one at risk. Yet, this can occur more often than you realize. At Cohen & Malad, LLP, we work with families that are facing the tragic and horrific damages their child is suffering as a result of losses brought on by people they trusted. When you choose to work with our youth sports sexual abuse lawyer, you gain the support of a professional with experience as well as a compassionate, aggressive attorney that will work to protect your rights.
Contact Cohen & Malad, LLP today to learn more about your rights if you believe your child has suffered sexual abuse at the hands of any youth sports coach, leader, or another player.
Abuse In Sports Case Illustration
Parents often feel safer when their child chooses a small, private college. Unfortunately, sexual assault can occur at even the smallest, most conservative universities.
A school in northeastern Indiana that brands itself as a “leading Christian university” is one such institution. Its cross-country coach perpetrated numerous crimes against students and others, until his suspicious behavior was reported by a concerned local high school official. Reports from two of the coach’s runners had also been ignored. By the time he was arrested in late 2020, this coach had impersonated a female assistant athletic director, kidnapped and sexually abused a minor, and lured his college runners to his residence, where he injected them with banned performance substances and sexually assaulted them. Despite being alerted to this suspicious activity, the coach continued his work at the university, until his arrest three months after the high school official alerted the authorities. The perpetrator’s wife was also aware of his crimes and did nothing. When the coach was fired in conjunction with his arrest, the person hired to replace the coach was his wife. The athletic director and university president who participated in these decisions are still there. After the perpetrator finished a short jail sentence under a felony plea agreement, a member of the university’s board of trustees who was aware of the felony convictions hired the perpetrator to work at his local landscaping firm.
This tragic and inexcusable situation demonstrates the importance of civil litigation to remedy the injustices faced by victims when their trusted coaches, teachers, and school leadership all fail them. Attorneys at Cohen & Malad, LLP know exactly how to manage cases that arise out of these types of horrific school and sports sexual assault incidents.
As a parent, it is not possible to think that someone you trusted to care for your child put your loved one at risk. Yet, this can occur more often than you realize. At Cohen & Malad, LLP, we work with families that are facing the tragic and horrific damages their child is suffering because of losses brought on by people they trusted. When you choose to work with our sexual abuse lawyers, you gain the support of a professional with experience as well as a compassionate, aggressive attorney that will work to protect your rights.
Contact Cohen & Malad, LLP today to learn more about your rights if you believe your child has suffered sexual abuse at the hands of any youth sports coach, leader, or another player.
Victim of Sexual Abuse? Click here to get help.
National Statistics on Youth Sports Sexual Abuse
Research indicates that abuse in youth sports is common. Some studies indicate that 40 – 50% of athletes claim that they have suffered some type of abuse ranging from mild harassment to severe forms. More so, 90% of child sexual abuse victims know who the perpetrator behind their abuse is – and often, it is a coach or another person within the sports league. About 2 – 8% of all athletes encounter some type of sexual abuse in sports, according to ChildHelp.org.
Turn to Cohen & Malad, LLP if you are facing this type of abuse or think your son or daughter may be a victim. We can help you learn more about your rights.
Notable Cases
Children in all types of sports could be at risk for abuse. There have been many notable cases throughout history that show just how prevalent these claims can be.
For example, the USA Gymnastics team doctor that worked through Michigan State University was found to be abusing his victims. This has become one of the most well-recognized of all youth sports sexual abuse cases in the U.S.
Other such cases have occurred in many types of organizations, including cheerleading, figure skating, swimming, diving, martial arts, and others. If you believe your child could have been the victim of sexual assault or any type of sexual abuse, don’t assume they are okay or that it didn’t happen. Take your child’s claims seriously and seek out help from our sexual abuse lawyers. Cohen & Malad, LLP can help you.
Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse in Youth Sports
Many children who are facing abuse are reluctant to immediately come forward to their parents or others to discuss what has happened to them. Even if you believe your child has a very good relationship with you, they may be embarrassed or hesitant to tell you what’s happened. That is due to many factors, not the least of which is their desire to continue to play the sports they love.
That is why it is critical to know the warning signs of sexual abuse in children. In a youth sports scenario, you may notice warning signs such as the following:
- Your child may no longer want to be alone with their coach or specific members of their team. They may ask you to come get them or to stay with them during practice.
- They may no longer want to engage in the sport or activities, which is worrisome, especially if it is a sudden onset of no longer wanting to engage in a favorite activity.
- Many will develop anxiety and depression, often withdrawing from friends, family, and social events that they love.
- They may have trauma evident on their genitals, back, or thighs. Others may also have bleeding.
- They may have trouble sleeping or suffer from intense nightmares.
- Some children may become excessively fearful of their surroundings and fearful in general.
In each one of these situations, you may need to seek out immediate care for your child. The key here is not to wait and watch but to take action.
We encourage you to reach out to one of our sexual abuse lawyers as soon as you have reasonable suspicions. Do not assume that you can get the care your child needs from the league or the youth sports teams.
What to Do If You Suspect Abuse
What do you do when you suspect something is not right? The first step is to get your child the medical care they need. A physical exam with a trusted physician may be the first step in determining what occurred. From there, it is essential to turn to a child’s therapist to ensure they can open up about what’s occurring.
If you suspect that abuse has occurred, you can and should reach out to the police. However, don’t stop there. Immediately work to protect yourself and your child. Partnering with a lawyer experienced in youth sports sexual abuse matters is an essential part of that process. Our team will help protect your rights, privacy, and emotional well-being.
Claims Process
A big part of our goal will be to gather evidence of what’s occurred so that we can take action for you. This often involves providing you with a wide range of insights about your legal options. We will then work closely with you to take the next step, whether that is reporting the case to the police or working with you to bring claims against the coach as well as the sports organization. We will be prepared to file suit if your claims cannot be reasonably resolved.
List of Potential Damages
The potential damages for losses like this will vary based on the circumstances. Some examples may include the following:
- Coverage for medical costs associated with the injuries or care needed
- Psychological therapy and counseling
- Loss of quality of life
- Pain and suffering claims
Our team of sexual abuse lawyers at Cohen & Malad, LLP will work closely with you throughout this process. Let us help you to take the first step in getting your child the care they need.
OTHER TYPES OF SEXUAL ABUSE CASES WE HANDLE
We are proud to help families heal through the legal pursuit of sexual abuse claims. Here are a few more specific examples of cases we’ve handled.
- Adult on child sexual abuse
- Daycare sexual abuse
- Child-on-child sexual abuse
- Church sexual abuse
- Nursing home sexual abuse
- Residential treatment center sexual abuse
- School or sports organization sexual abuse
Resources for Family Members Suspecting Abuse
If you have any belief that your child may have suffered abuse like this, take action right away. Your first step should be to contact the appropriate authorities, including local police. Next, make sure you get your son or daughter the medical and mental health care they need. Then, reach out to one of Cohen & Malad, LLP’s sexual abuse lawyers. The following resources may provide additional support and guidance:
