Cheerleading is generally viewed as a fun and wholesome activity for boys and girls of all ages. Recently, cheering has exploded in popularity thanks to the Netflix docuseries, “Cheer.” Unfortunately, the show soon revealed a darker side of competitive cheering when its former star, Jerry Harris was convicted of soliciting sexually graphic images and videos from various minors at cheering competitions. Harris is also facing a lawsuit filed on behalf of two 15-year old males, who allege that Harris solicited nude photos from them, sent them nude photos of himself, and tried to coerce one of them into performing oral sex on him.
While this incident is highly disturbing, incidents of cheerleader coach sexual assault and sexual harassment are very common. In fact, leading figures in the world of competitive sports, like Champion Women CEO Nancy Hogshead-Makar said, “It’s like any other youth-serving organization. Wherever you find two ingredients, you’re going to find sexual harassment and abuse. One is children. The other is power.”
If you or your child is a victim of sexual abuse at a cheerleading academy, legal options are available to help you achieve justice and move forward with your life. These options include a civil lawsuit for monetary damages, which we can discuss with you during a private, confidential meeting. To schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys, please give us a call at our office.
Sexual Assault and Harassment at Cheerleading Classes
As we’ve mentioned, sexually inappropriate conduct at cheerleading classes happens far too often. Most recently, the world of competitive cheer was hit with a scandal involving multiple cheerleading coaches at Rockstar Cheer in South Carolina. A lawsuit filed on September 1, 2022 accused the coaches of sexually abusing boys and girls that attended the academy, and providing them with alcohol and drugs.
The lawsuit mentions a long list of sexually abusive behavior by the coaches, including:
- Having sex with cheer students that were under the age of consent (statutory rape).
- Asking students for sexually explicit photos over social media.
- Sending nudes and other sexually graphic photos of themselves to students.
- Bribing students with drugs and alcohol so they would stay quiet about the abuse.
- Isolating and intimidating victims into thinking that no one would believe them.
These are all forms of sexual assault and harassment, which took place at Rockstar gyms for more than 10 years. Over this time period, the “coven of sexual predators” may have abused up to 100 victims, according to attorney Jessica Fickling.
This case is an example of how sexual predators manipulate their victims into thinking that they’re alone. In reality, there are many victims by the time someone is brave enough to come forward with their story. That’s why it’s important to take that first step and seek help from an experienced attorney. Our lawyers are here for you every step of the way, and we will not rest until you receive the compensation you deserve from the responsible parties.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$45 Million
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$54 Million
$525,000
$1.2 Million
Who is Liable in a Cheerleader Coach Sexual Abuse Case?
One party that is clearly liable, or responsible, in these cases is the cheerleading coach or instructor. You can file criminal charges against the attacker and sue them for monetary damages at the same time. But there may be other entities that you can go after in a cheerleader coach sexual abuse case.
In the scandal involving Jerry Harris, for example, United States All Star Federation (USASF) and USA Cheer have also been named as defendants. These are the governing bodies of competitive cheerleading in America, and according to a recent lawsuit, these organizations have a long history or hiring predatory coaches and covering up incidents of rape, molestation, solicitation, and other forms of sexual abuse. This can be viewed as negligence by the organizations for failing in their duty of care to cheerleading participants.
Aside from the sport’s governing bodies, you may also be able to sue the gym where the assault or harassment occurred. For example, staff and administrators at these places are mandatory reporters under California law, meaning they must report any incidents of abuse (or suspected abuse) to the authorities. Failure to do so is actually a crime, which means victims can pursue criminal charges as well as monetary damages. The amount of damages may even be tripled if the gym, or any other organization that knew about the sexual assault or harassment engaged in a cover up to protect the coach or themselves.
At the end of the day, liability is a complex issue that varies from case to case. We can help you determine who is responsible for your injuries and fight to recover the maximum value of your losses.
Average Value of a Cheerleader Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Each sexual abuse case has its own set of circumstances that dictate the damages you can recover. As a general rule, damages in a cheerleading class sexual assault or harassment case include:
- Cost of medical treatment
- Cost of mental health counseling / related services
- Lost wages, endorsements, scholarships, etc.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Depending on the severity of your physical and emotional injuries, you may qualify for other forms of compensation, like loss of consortium and punitive damages. The totality of all these losses can be significant when it comes to sexual abuse at the hands of a teacher or coach. In our experience, settlements ranging from $750,000 to over $1 million are not unusual for these cases. Of course, what you can receive from a successful lawsuit depends on many factors that are unique to your own situation. To discuss your case with one of our attorneys, contact our law firm and schedule a free case review.
How long does it take to Paid on these Cases?
The length of time to settle one of these cases varies significantly, but it’s always our goal to submit your injury claim and recover your payment as soon as possible. Depending on the other side’s cooperation, your case may be settled in 6 to 8 months. But if the extent of the abuse is significant, the other side is likely to push back against your compensation demands, which can lengthen your case timeline by 12 to 18 months. If your lawsuit cannot be settled without court intervention, two or more years may be needed in order to recover your damages.
Statute of Limitations to File a Sexual Assault / Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
If you are 18 years or older, you have 10 years from the last incident of sexual abuse to file a lawsuit for monetary compensation. Victims who were under 18 when the abuse occurred have up to the age or 40 to bring a legal action against the responsible parties. Additionally, California’s Assembly Bill 218 (AB-218) currently provides a three year look back window for previously expired cases, meaning you may still qualify for a claim even if you were abused many years ago. However, the look back window expires as of December 31, 2022 so please call us right away if you were previously barred from filing a cheerleading sexual assault / harassment lawsuit.
Another important development concerning AB-218 is treble damages in cases involving “a concerted effort to hide evidence relating to childhood sexual assault.” Essentially, this refers to cover ups by individuals or organizations (like the USASF and USA Cheer), if they deliberately hid, concealed, or destroyed evidence pertaining to the sexual abuse of a minor. In that case, the victim may be awarded three times what they would normally receive from their lawsuit.
Second Opinion from an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney
Our practice offers free second opinions if you have an active lawsuit, but feel like you’re not getting the level of service you deserve from your attorney. One of our experienced lawyers in sexual abuse claims will sit down with you and answer any questions you have about the lawsuit process. We can also review what’s been done on your case so far and verify if your current law firm in on the right track. If not, we can advise you on the process for switching over to one of our attorneys. No matter what you decide, the consultation is completely free of charge, so there’s nothing to lose by calling us and scheduling a second opinion consultation.
Normandie is Here for You
Incidents of sexual assault and harassment are devastating at any age, but they are especially tragic when a minor is taken advantage of by a trusted mentor, like a cheerleading coach. Without a doubt, these cases affect the victim and their loved ones for the rest of their lives. While money can’t make up for their suffering, it can bring the injured party a sense of justice and help them cover the losses associated with their abuse.
Here at Normandie, you are much more than a client or case number. You can count on us to be there when you have questions or concerns, or need to have your faith restored in the legal system. Something else you can count on is the Zero fee guarantee, since you should not be burdened with the cost of legal representation. You pay nothing upfront to retain our law firm, nor will you pay us a single penny until we win your case. At that point, our fees will be paid by the people or entities you are suing, along with your settlement award.
If you’re ready to learn more about your rights and explore your legal options with one of our attorneys, contact our office at your earliest convenience.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
School Cheerleader Injury Lawsuit Attorney
Edison High School Sexual Abuse by Wresting Coach Lawsuit Attorneys
Sexual Abuse in After School Programs Lawsuit Attorney
