Fighting Against Hazing & Sexual Abuse in Sports
Hazing in Sports, Clubs & Schools
Survivors of physical, sexual, or psychologically violent hazing in youth and school sports have legal rights. Hazing is defined as “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.” According to a 2008 national study, 73% of students involved in social fraternities or sororities experienced hazing in order to join or maintain membership in their group. Some of the most common forms of hazing include being forced or coerced into the following behaviors:
- Drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic, or non-alcoholic beverages.
- Being awakened in the middle of the night and forced to get up and participate in other hazing activities.
- Being verbally, physically, or sexually harassed by other members of a group, school, club, etc.
- Performing activities that are meant to humiliate or demean the victim.
During the past few years, stories about hazing in youth, high school, and university sports have dominated the headlines. Students have been brutally beaten and psychologically tormented by teammates, sometimes even resulting in death. Some survivors have been forced into fighting bigger, stronger teens. In many cases, these incidents can turn into sexual assaults, due to lack of supervision, implicit encouragement, and a “boys will be boys” attitude by coaches and administrators.
In November 2021, a Mater Dei High School student on their nationally-ranked football team made national headlines with the truth about how a hazing ritual and the ensuing actions by school officials and coaches left him with a brain injury.
If you were sexually abused as a child in California, no matter how old you were, no matter when the abuse occurred, you still have rights and can still take action, but time is running out. Survivors of sexual abuse in California have until December 31 to file a lawsuit.
Violent hazing—including physical assault, simulating sex acts, forcing youth to fight, and psychological torment—is NEVER a rite of passage or just a “tradition”.
If you are a survivor of hazing, you deserve justice and accountability. The best way to stop further abuse is to come forward and disclose what happened to you. It’s important to note that any conversations you have with our firm will be confidential and compassionate. Not only can taking legal action bring a sense of empowerment, it could also potentially stop other kids from being abused.
You Are Not Alone. We Are Here to Help.
It’s time for justice. It’s time for you to share your story safely and confidentially. It’s time to lay down your burden and reclaim some of your power. It’s time to expose those who hurt you and make sure what happened to you never happens to another child. It’s time to take action under the California Child Victims Act. Before making a decision concerning such severe and sensitive matters, we encourage all survivors of child sexual abuse to consult with legal counsel before proceeding with a claim. We want to help you find accountability and healing. We will stand by you. We will fight for you.
If you are concerned about your privacy, or remaining anonymous, you can learn more about that in our Questions & Answers section on our website.
Sexual Abuse of Athletes in Sports & Clubs
Sexual abuse in youth sports is never okay. Survivors have legal rights, but time is running out.
There is hardly a youth sports organization that has not been rocked by a sexual abuse scandal. According to a 2008 national study, 74% of students involved in varsity athletics programs experienced hazing in order to join or maintain membership on their team. However, much of sexual abuse in sports goes unreported. A recent study that interviewed nearly 4,000 athletes in 50 different sports, found that 93% of respondents who experienced sexual harassment or unwanted contact during their time in sports did not report it.
The sexual exploitation of young athletes in gymnastics, swimming, equestrian, and other sports and clubs have dominated headlines, as thousands of survivors have come forward to tell their stories. In 2018, Larry Nassar, a world-famous USA Gymnastics Coach, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for pleading guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault of minors. Under the guise of medical “treatment”, Nassar abused at least 265 female athletes, many of whom were Olympians, such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and more.
Unfortunately, sexual abuse at universities is quite pervasive. 13% of college students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. In 2011, Jerry Sandusky, an assistant football coach for Pennsylvania State, was arrested and charged with 52 counts of sexual abuse of minor boys. His arrest followed a two-year grand jury investigation. Sandusky worked closely with head coach, Joe Paterno. In 2012, Sandusky was sentenced to 60 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years. One of the survivors, John Doe 1, didn’t tell anyone about the abuse until he saw the news that Sandusky was being criminally charged with sexually abusing other kids. John Doe 1 decided to take legal action, and became the first survivor to file a civil lawsuit against Penn State for the child sexual abuse scandal.
“The courageous survivor that filed a lawsuit is now part of a historic moment. By taking action, we, along with the authorities, have been able to imprison Sandusky, take down Paterno, and begin to cleanse the university from abuse.” – attorney Jeff Anderson
USA Swimming is another organization that has been in the spotlight lately, as allegations of sexual abuse, cover-up, and fraud continue to emerge. Lawyer and former swimming gold medalist Nancy Hogshead-Makar, who heads the advocacy group Champion Women, said the following about the culture in swimming: “Not every coach is a pedophile, but every pedophile wants to be a coach…Why? Because you get to spend hour after hour in an authority position over athletes, unsupervised, with almost no oversight or consequences to really horrible behavior.”
Predators are attracted to youth sports because it provides them with immediate, intimate accessibility to vulnerable children who want to excel. Sexual abuse, sexting, predatory grooming, and assault are never okay in sports. Children never “ask for” or “invite” abuse.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse in youth sports, no matter how prestigious or powerful the organization, you have legal rights and deserve justice and healing.
You Are Not Alone. We Are Here to Help.
It’s time for justice. It’s time for you to share your story safely and confidentially. It’s time to lay down your burden and reclaim some of your power. It’s time to expose those who hurt you and make sure what happened to you never happens to another child. It’s time to take action under the California Child Victims Act. Before making a decision concerning such severe and sensitive matters, we encourage all survivors of child sexual abuse to consult with legal counsel before proceeding with a claim. We want to help you find accountability and healing. We will stand by you. We will fight for you.
If you were sexually abused as a child in California, no matter how old you were, no matter when the abuse occurred, you still have rights and can still take action, but time is running out. Survivors of sexual abuse in California have until December 31 to file a lawsuit.