Softball is a sport that’s similar to baseball, but it’s played on a smaller field with a larger ball. These factors make the game less physically demanding than baseball, which is why softball acquired the reputation of being a “girl sport.” However, the game is often played by boys, though only girls compete at the professional level.
There are softball teams and training centers for children as young as 4, and these kids look up to their coaches and instructors. Such relationships have wonderful benefits for most players, but some children are sexually abused by the people who are supposed to protect and nurture them. Usually, these assaults occur between athletes and coaches, but a softball training facility has many other individuals that can prey upon minors for sexual gratification.
If you or your child suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a softball coach, assistant coach, instructor, or trainer, we can help you receive justice from the criminal and civil courts. To learn about your rights and legal options, schedule a free case review with a sexual abuse / molestation lawyer.
Sexual Abuse among Children in Sports
Young athletes see their coaches as heroes, and the love and respect they have for them is unconditional. This innocent trust can be taken advantage of by a sexual predator, and sadly, this happens quite often in youth sports teams. But coaches are not the only adults that can abuse a child at a training center. These facilities employ assistant coaches, sports trainers, and instructors, who can also commit acts of sexual assault. Abuse doesn’t just occur at the training facility, by the way. We have worked with a good number of clients who were abused at their own home, at their school, or while traveling to and from a game.
A softball player that’s targeted by a predatory adult can be harmed in the following ways:
- Rape
- Attempted rape
- Molestation
- Indecent exposure (flashing / masturbating in front of someone)
- Child grooming
- Being coerced or threatened into a sexual act
- Sending / receiving sexually explicit IMs, DMs, and texts
- Exchanging sexually graphic pictures / videos
- Child trafficking
By the time a victim comes forward, the abuser has likely gotten away with their actions for a long period of time. In fact, it’s not unusual for these offenders to have dozens to hundreds of victims before they are prosecuted. Even worse, many of them are enabled by the training facility, softball league officials, tournament organizers, and other parties that were told about incidents of sexual abuse. Instead of contacting the police, these individuals often cover up sexual assault reports in order to protect the abuser, as well as their public image.
The end result is that victims blame themselves for what happened, or struggle with shame and guilt for something that was beyond their control. We know that it’s a big step – probably the biggest one you’ll take in your life – but please contact our attorneys as soon as possible. The decision to take legal action is always up to you, but coming forward and telling your story can help with the emotional trauma of being abused. If you want to take that extra step and demand justice from the responsible parties, you can count on our lawyers to recover the compensation you deserve.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
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$525,000
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Can I Sue for Sexual Abuse by a Softball Coach?
If you or your child was sexually abused by a softball coach or another employee at a training facility, you can seek monetary compensation through a sexual abuse lawsuit. However, you will need to figure out who is responsible for your injuries. In cases of sexual assault involving young athletes, the perpetrator of the abuse is clearly responsible, but what about the training facility? Were they told about sexually inappropriate behaviors between the coach and players? Did they conduct proper background checks on their employees and provide training to recognize the signs of sexual abuse? When they were told about incidents of sexual abuse, did they ignore the complaints or transfer the coach, trainer, etc., to another facility?
Aside from the training center, softball leagues, tournaments, and governing bodies (Amateur Softball Association, for ex.) may have known about the abuse as well. Due to their involvement with players under the age of consent, individuals at these organizations are required to report child abuse incidents to the police under California’s mandatory reporting laws. Under California Penal Code Section 11166.5, certain professionals are legally required to contact the authorities if they witness, are told about, or suspect a case of child sexual abuse. Failure to report the incident is punishable by:
- A fine of up to $1,000
- A jail sentence of up to 6 months
- A permanent record for a criminal misdemeanor
Along with criminal prosecution, victims can also sue the organization or individual for economic and emotional damages, which include the cost of medical treatments, mental health counseling, pain and suffering, and lost wages / income opportunities. A child sexual assault lawyer will fight for your rights and ensure that you receive maximum payment for your losses.
How much can I Receive from one of these Cases?
Due to increasing media attention on the prevalence of sexual abuse in youth sports, public sentiment is greatly in favor of the victims. As a result, the average case value is high with these lawsuits – around $500,000 to $1.5 million. Depending on the severity of the abuse and negligence by those who knew about it, settlements can go all the way up to several million dollars.
Case values for sexual assault are especially high in California due to the possibility that a victim may be awarded triple the amount of damages. This is a critical aspect of the state’s Assembly Bill 218, which is meant to punish those who intentionally hide or destroy “evidence relating to childhood sexual assault.” Thus, if there was a deliberate cover up of your abuse by a softball coach, you may be eligible for three times the normal amount of damages.
Statute of Limitations for a Sexual Assault Lawsuit
If you are 18 or over at the time you were sexually abused, the time limit to file your lawsuit is 10 years from the last incident of abuse. However, the statute of limitations is quite different if you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. If you were molested, raped, or suffered some other form of sexual assault prior to turning 18, you have until:
- The age of 40 (22 years after reaching the age of consent).
- 5 years after the discovery of an injury resulting from your childhood abuse (PTSD, for example).
Under California’s Assembly Bill 218, you can rely on the SOL that comes later, which means you may be eligible for a lawsuit even if you were abused many years ago. Furthermore, AB 218 provides a 3-year lookback window on claims that were previously expired. This means the statute of limitations is effectively paused on all claims of child sexual abuse until the end of this year (December 31, 2022). Thus, we urge all survivors to contact our law firm as soon as possible to ensure that their right to compensation is not jeopardized.
How long do these Cases take to Settle?
The goal in any sexual abuse case is to negotiate a settlement without court intervention. This process can take anywhere from several months to a year and a half, and the timeline depends on many issues that are unique to your own case. The liable party’s willingness to admit fault is a critical factor, along with the amount of damages you’re entitled to. As a general rule, defendants fight harder in high value cases, and a lot of the resistance is due to their reluctance to admit their role in such a horrible crime. If the liable entities continue to resist, a lawsuit may be necessary to ensure that you are adequately compensated. In that case, it can take two or more years to recover your settlement.
Schedule a Second Opinion Consultation
Are you in need of a second opinion on your case? Maybe you are confused about an aspect of the law or feel like your claim is heading in the wrong direction. We have lawyers who can review your case for free and provide an honest assessment of your legal options.
“Should I find a new lawyer?” is a question that comes up frequently during these consultations. Finding a new attorney can be helpful if your current lawyer is incompetent or lacks the empathy and drive to settle your case. We can help you decide if this is the right choice for you and take care of the entire transfer process for free if you’re interested in switching to our law firm.
Speak to a Lawyer Experienced in Sexual Abuse Cases
As personal injury lawyers, we know that money doesn’t make up for a sexual abuse victim’s harm and suffering. But taking legal action can provide you with a sense of resolution, while letting other victims know that justice is possible, even if their case happened many years ago.
Here at Normandie, our goal is to help you take action against your abuser, while ensuring that your finances are never at risk. That’s why we cover the costs associated with your lawsuit, meaning you pay nothing upfront to retain one of our attorneys. The only time we get paid is at the end of your case, when you receive compensation from the liable parties. If we don’t recover your settlement award, you won’t have to pay back a single penny of our expenses.
For a free case review with the lawyers of Normandie, contact our office at your earliest convenience.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
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