Soroka & Associates - Personal Injury Lawyers

Sexual Abuse by Coaches

Dedicated legal support for survivors in Ohio

High-profile stories about the abuse of athletes have grabbed headlines for years. The close relationship between athletes and coaches, the amount of time shared between them, and the trust young athletes often have in these authority figures creates an environment that abusers may take advantage of. When these instances of abuse occur, the victims need a safe place to turn—and someone to fight for them. At Soroka & Associates, our experienced team of sexual abuse lawyers offers unwavering support and fearless representation for survivors in their pursuit of justice and accountability.

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Soroka & Associates, LLC in Columbus

Why choose Soroka & Associates?

At Soroka & Associates, our trauma-informed sexual abuse lawyers have experience handling these challenging and emotionally difficult cases. We understand how complicated these claims are—and know how to build successful strategies from day one. Starting with in-depth investigations, developing relationships with forensic experts, working with physical trauma and psychological trauma physicians, and always being prepared to take a case all the way to trial, we’re focused on getting true justice for our clients.

If you or your loved one suffered abuse at the hands of a coach, we’re ready to fight for you, not just for accountability and compensation, but also for meaningful change that will prevent abuse in the future. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation with one of our lawyers.

Understanding sexual abuse by coaches

Sexual abuse typically involves an abuser who knows the child, often someone who has a close relationship with them. In fact, about 90% of sexual abuse victims know their abusers. Cases of abuse by coaches often involve the exploitation of trust and authority over young athletes. The abuse may start as “grooming” and become worse over time as the young person begins to normalize inappropriate behaviors. What might first appear as favoritism can eventually escalate into something more sinister, often without the victim or their parents realizing when the line was crossed.

Why are athletes particularly vulnerable?

One study found that athletes on college campuses are 2.5 times more likely than non-athletes to suffer from sexual abuse from an authority figure. Some of the reasons for this involve psychology. As a part of their training, athletes often learn to accept and not question authority figures; they are often required to push through their discomfort to improve their fitness and skills, and as a result, might be less likely to recognize abusive conduct.

Additionally, athletes do form close emotional and physical relationships with their coaches as a common aspect of coaching and training. It may involve frequent one-on-one time and even travel to competitions. Such opportunities are easy for an abuser to exploit. And to make matters worse, coaches may be able to leverage power over athletes, including playing time, scholarships, and other benefits that might be incredibly important to the victim, making them less likely to push back against or report the abuse.

Athletes aren’t the only vulnerable students. Any activity, such as theater performances, music studies, tech clubs, and any activity that involves teacher supervision, may result in the sexual abuse of students by a coach or after-school advisor.

Common signs of grooming by coaches

Grooming behaviors may initially look like mentorship, which would be a normal and even healthy type of relationship for a young person to have with a coach. As a result, it can be challenging to identify the behavior as something dangerous.

Some of the warning signs that a coach is grooming a young person include:

  • Gifts, excessive praise, or special privileges
  • Efforts to isolate the athlete from teammates and family
  • Use of secretive and personal communication through texts, calls, or apps
  • The gradual escalation of physical contact
  • Discussion of sexual topics or mature subjects
  • Suggestions that the athlete keep secrets from their parents
  • Efforts to undermine parental authority to create a dependency
  • The creation of an emotional bond that might feel “special” or exclusive

Grooming is often gradual and subtle. It’s not a child’s fault that they don’t recognize that something dangerous and wrong is happening. The abuse is often manipulative and disguised as positive attention. However, it is extremely harmful to the victim. By normalizing inappropriate relationships with adults, grooming makes the child more vulnerable to other forms of abuse as well.

Institutional failures that enable abuse

When a child suffers from sexual abuse by a coach, it’s not only the abuser who has failed that victim. In many cases, the schools, sports clubs, or governing bodies neglected to act to prevent the abuse, even when they might have had ample indications that something wrongful was occurring.

In some cases, the institution may actively attempt to hide the abuse in order to protect its reputation, maintain sponsors, or keep a competitive edge. The organization might have looked the other way when someone made earlier complaints, or even skipped important screening steps like background checks before allowing someone to have close contact with minors.

What can you do if you suspect abuse?

Athletes or their parents who suffer sexual abuse by a coach can take steps to prevent future incidents and to preserve their legal remedies. Some of the immediate steps for parents or other athletes include:

  • Document all concerning or unusual behaviors, including any gifts, efforts to isolate, or messages from the abuser
  • Report suspicions directly to law enforcement rather than just the school or organization
  • Contact child protective services and request that they perform a formal investigation
  • Seek medical and mental health support for the survivor—abuse can leave physical and psychological injuries
  • Never confront the suspected abuser directly—leave that to the authorities

Remember that while seeking accountability is critical, it’s also important to focus on the survivor’s needs. Be sure to validate their experiences. Never express doubt or blame them for anything that happened. Get in touch with advocacy organizations and trauma counselors for professional help and support.

What laws protect students from abuse by coaches?

Schools and other organizations can face civil liability when this type of abuse takes place. Premises liability law, negligent hiring or supervision laws, general tort law, and failure to report abuse are some of the ways that the victims can hold the institution accountable, not just the abuser. Note that in Ohio, coaches and school officials are mandatory reporters. It is a legal violation for these people to fail to report abuse of a student.

In addition to Ohio’s criminal laws, there are several federal laws that protect students (minors and adults) when coaches sexually abuse their students:

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Title IX  applies to all public and private grade schools, colleges, and universities in Ohio that receive federal funds. In addition to protecting students from discrimination based on their sex, Title IX does require that the staff of athletics universities at these schools report any instances of sexual assault or violence.

Nancy Hogshead-Makar and the Safe Sport Act

The “Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act”, known as the “Safe Sport Act”, was enacted on February 14, 2018. This law requires that members of amateur sports organizations, including Olympic sports, report sexual abuse to law enforcement within 24 hours. The law requires that all sports organizations implement policies to protect their athletes from sexual abuse or assault.

Filing a civil sexual abuse claim in Ohio

In cases of sexual abuse of a minor, the authorities may become involved, and it’s possible that the perpetrator will face criminal charges. A criminal case aims to hold the abuser accountable by having them serve prison time and a criminal record. While this is important, it doesn’t always offer the victims the closure and validation they need.

A civil lawsuit against the abuser directly and against the organization that allowed the abuse to occur serves a different but related purpose. Filing a civil claim gives the survivor the chance to seek justice and compensation for their injuries. The financial toll of abuse can include therapy, medical costs and lost opportunities. Compensation for pain and suffering is also part of the equation. While a civil claim can’t undo the harm caused by the abuser, it can help reduce the burden on the survivor and aid in their recovery.

Statute of limitations in Ohio

Survivors do face a time limit on filing their claims against sexual abusers in Ohio. However, the law is relatively generous compared to other statutes of limitations in the state. The reason is in part that survivors of sexual abuse often take time to come forward. Ohio law now allows childhood sexual abuse survivors to file until they are 30 or within 12 years of their 18th birthday.

In criminal cases involving the rape or battery of a child, there is no statute of limitations.

The important takeaway for survivors of sexual assault or abuse is that there may be remedies, even for abuse that occurred years ago. Speaking to a dedicated sexual abuse lawyer, as soon as possible, can help you understand your rights and available legal remedies.

Contact us for a confidential consultation

If you or someone you love suffered sexual abuse by a coach, contact Soroka & Associates today. We offer free, confidential consultations with experienced legal professionals. Our team takes these cases very seriously and is ready to provide compassionate support and dedicated legal guidance.

You don’t have to suffer alone or in silence. We’re here to listen and to fight for you.