Baseball Coach Sexual Assault Lawsuit Attorney
While there are many sports that are geared toward, children, baseball remains one of the most popular sports for kids. Kids can join a team at just 4 years old, and many of them go on to play the sport throughout their school years. Some of them will work towards a professional career in baseball, whether they play for a Major League team or become a sportscaster, coach, or team manager.
A child’s love for a particular sport has a lot to do with their coach, who is there to teach important lessons that can be used on and off the field. Though some adults fondly recall their childhood coaches, others are filled with dread at the mere mention of baseball due to the abuse they suffered. The truth is, there are predatory individuals who work as coaches and teachers for the purpose of sexually abusing children. Many of these coaches keep the same position for 10 or more years, and by that point, there are dozens of kids whose lives are negatively impacted from the trauma of sexual abuse.
Are you a victim of sexual assault or exploitation by a baseball coach? Even if you were abused many years ago, you may have the chance to sue the coach, the school district, a sports organization, and other entities for the harm you suffered. The sports coach sexual abuse lawyers of Kenmore are ready to fight for you and the compensation you deserve. Contact our office and talk to a lawyer who can help you file a baseball coach sexual abuse lawsuit.
$465,000
Slip & Fall
$600,000
Assault and Battery
$525,000
Head Trauma
$900,000
Hand/Wrist and Back Injury
$599,000
Slip And Fall Accident
$600,000
Shoulder Injury
Sexual Abuse by Youth Sports Coaches
Sexual assault is a term that’s often associated with rape of attempted rape, but these are just two examples of sexual abuse that can be committed against a minor. Though forcible rape may be involved, most coaches are much more subtle in their approach. Typically, sexual abuse by a sports coach starts with grooming, which leads the minor to believe that there is special friendship between themselves and their coach. Over time, the adult’s hold over the child grows stronger, and it becomes easier to talk them into sexual activities, like sexting and exchanging nude photos.
If the relationship becomes physical, that’s when things change from sexual exploitation to sexual assault. Even though the child didn’t say no, any kind of physical contact for sexual pleasure between adults and individuals under 18 years old is defined as child sexual assault under California law. This is a crime, so the victim or their parents / guardians may choose to seek criminal prosecution. However, they can also explore the option of filing a lawsuit for damages like medical expenses, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
Child sexual abuse between child athletes and sports coaches include a wide variety of acts, including:
- Exchanging sexually explicit material, like pornography and nude pics
- Sexual conversations via social media, messaging apps, texting, etc.
- Solicitation of a minor for sexual favors
- Sexual touching, such as groping and fondling
- Masturbating or exposing oneself in front of an underage individual
- Oral sex, vaginal intercourse, or anal sex
Who can be Sued when a Minor is Sexually Assaulted?
It’s possible to file a lawsuit against more than one entity that contributed to you being abused by a baseball coach. These include public school districts and private schools that hired the coach. Sports coaches can also be hired by community centers and sports organizations. Then, there are governing organizations that establish rules and codes of conduct for players and coaches. These are all entities that may be liable when a coach sexually abuses a child athlete.
To hold someone responsible for sexual assault and exploitation of a minor, you must establish that they were negligent in their duty of care. This can include a failure to conduct proper background checks before the coach was hired. Failure to report allegations of sexual misconduct also count as negligence, meaning the organization did not contact the child’s parents and law enforcement. While an investigation is underway, the accused baseball coach should be suspended from their duties and fired if there is credible evidence of a sexually inappropriate relationship.
These are just some of the ways that a child can be protected in the event they are targeted by a sexual predator. Sadly, many schools and sports organizations fail to take the most basis actions when they are faced with allegations of child abuse by a baseball coach. This is why lawsuits for coach sexual abuse often include entities apart from the coach that is guilty of sexual assault.
To see if you are eligible for a baseball coach sexual assault lawsuit, reach out to us for a free, private case review.
Time Limit to Sue for Child Sexual Abuse
In the state of California, you have a window of 22 years to file a lawsuit for coach sexual abuse. The statute of limitations does not begin until you are 18 years old, so you have until the age of 40 to file a claim for monetary compensation.
Under Assembly Bill 218, there is another guideline that can be used by those who were sexually abused as children. The discovery rule provides a time period of 5 years to file a child sexual assault lawsuit, starting from the date of realizing a sexual abuse-related injury. Most of the people who qualify for a lawsuit under this rule are suffering from mental health issues, but you can certainly build a case on the delayed discovery of physical injuries.
The discovery rules is a complicated concept, so it’s best to speak with a lawyer experienced in sexual abuse claims if you have questions about this subject. That way, you will know exactly how long you have for a lawsuit if you were sexually assaulted by a baseball coach. .
Contact Our Law Firm
The lawyers of Kenmore Law Group have been fighting for justice on behalf of sex abuse victims for several decades. We understand that a lawsuit is not right for everyone, but we want to give you the opportunity to make that choice for yourself. With that in mind, we would like to offer a free case evaluation where you can learn more about the process of suing for sexual assault by a baseball coach.
If proceeding with a child sexual abuse lawsuit is right for you, all payments will be waived until the end of your case. We have a Zero Fee Guarantee, where clients pay $0 upfront. Instead, we agree to receive a portion of your settlement, meaning we have to win your case in order to get paid. So, if we fail to recover your settlement, you owe us nothing at all.
Contact us today and learn about your rights and legal options from a baseball coach sexual abuse lawyer.