‘Courts Must Toughen Sanctions Against USA Swimming’s Nose-Thumbing Tactics in Sex Abuse Litigation’ … today at Beyond Chron

Yet again, a California appellate court has summarily denied an effort by USA Swimming to circumvent a judge’s order to be more forthcoming with discovery documents in a case alleging sex abuse by a club coach.

Former swimmer Jancy Thompson has sued both USA Swimming and its regional arm, Pacific Swimming, in Santa Clara Superior Court on claims that a coach named Norm Havercroft molested her. Thompson’s attorneys asked the Colorado-based swimming organization to produce sexual abuse complaints going back 20 years.

So far the plaintiff has received documents so random, poorly organized, and heavily blacked-out as to be useless. (Not only are victims’ names redacted, but so are those of coaches, teams, and even regions and dates in which the complaints were lodged. Even newspaper clippings got the Nixon White House treatment.)

I agree with B. Robert Allard, who represents victims, when he says, “USA Swimming needs to stop concealing the identities of potential pedophiles and start protecting young swimmers. Parents have a right to know the identities of those suspected of abuse and molestation so that they can take the steps necessary to keep their children safe. The more information parents have the better. They have the right to know the truth, especially when it comes to their children.”

CONTINUED TODAY AT BEYOND CHRON, THE SAN FRANCISCO ONLINE NEWSPAPER:

http://www.beyondchron.org/articles/Courts_Must_Toughen_Sanctions_Against_USA_Swimming_s_Nose_Thumbing_Tactics_in_Sex_Abuse_Litigation_10188.html