So far, no arrests have been made in any of the cases. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. A cheerleading company named in a federal lawsuit claiming sexual abuse of athletes is threatening a suit of its own. ANOTHER ACCUSER HAS COME FORWARD IN THE VARSITY SPIRIT ABUSE SCANDAL. I. For plaintiffs: Eric Cramer of Berger Montague; Gregory Asciolla of DiCello Levitt; and Jonathan Cuneo of Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, For Varsity Brands: George Cary of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; and Matthew Mulqueen of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz. 4 min read COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) The latest lawsuit in a series alleging widespread sexual misconduct across competitive cheerleading alleges that officials allowed. The case is Fusion Elite All Stars et al v. Varsity Brands LLC et al, U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee, No. We hope this does not have the effect of chilling those who have suffered abuse from coming forward.. In 2003, Varsity Spirit created USASF through a $1.8 million interest-free loan. The victim, referenced as John Doe 1, was a teenager at the time of the abuse, attorney's said. These entities have every chance to protect their athletes from sexual predators but, until a family goes public and the information can no longer be shuffled to the side or into a file somewhere, they do nothing. ", USA Cheer sent the following statement to ABC24: "What is alleged to have occurred is tragic and we are heartbroken for any victims of abuse. The lawsuit, originally filed Sept. 1 in Greenville, South Carolina, now includes three additional female plaintiffs, all unidentified, plus the new coaches, who are accused publicly for the first time Kenny Feeley, Josh Guyton, Nathan Allan Plank, Christopher Hinton, Traevon Black and Peter Holley. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Our life here at Spirit is cheer, and we want our sport to be safe for all athletes. In over 44 pages, the complaint, filed on behalf of six anonymous plaintiffs by attorneys from Strom Law Firm,. The company denies those accusations, resting responsibility with the individual gyms and coaches named in the lawsuits. On Tuesday, lawyers for Varsity Spirit said they are prepared to sue for defamation. Sellers has made alarming accusations against Varsity without providing a shred of evidence in his sham litigation against the company. The lawsuits alleged a connection between sexual abuse at cheer gyms and Varsity's monopoly within the sport. In a statement to the AP, Premier Athletics Knoxville West said it was inaccurately implicated" in the lawsuit, in which the majority of the allegations are said to have occurred before current ownership purchased any gyms. Judge cited tortured history of discovery in case . Varsity Brands, LLC Varsity Spirit, LLC Varsity Spirit Fashion & Supplies, LLC U.S. All Star Federation, Inc. Less than a week after voluntarily dropping its first lawsuit, Californias Fusion Elite All Stars, along with a Florida-based Fuel Athletics, has filed a new proposed class action alleging Varsity Brands and the U.S. All Star Federation have gained and maintained an illegal monopoly over the all-star cheerleading industry. It said athletes are encouraged to travel with the gyms representatives rather than parents as well to relieve the financial burden from families.. MEMPHIS, Tenn A new federal lawsuithas been filed against Memphis-based Varsity Brands and Varsity Spirit, which runs competitions, and the U.S. All Star Federation, the country's cheerleading governing body. A new federal lawsuit has been filed against Memphis-based Varsity Brands and Varsity Spirit, which runs competitions, and the U.S. All Star Federation, the country's cheerleading governing body. During the time period described in the suit, Varsity and its co-defendants have collectively controlled roughly 90 percent of the All-Star Cheer competition marketincluding all three national championship eventsand approximately 80 percent of the sports apparel market, according to the lawsuit, which can be found here. You Can Still Snag These 19 Post-Memorial Day Sales Until the End of the Week, 10 Best Memorial Day Bedding Sales of 2023 You Cannot Snooze On This Summer, Where to Buy Limited Edition 'The Little Mermaid' Dolls Before They Sell Out (Again! COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The American cheerleading company behind the sports top uniforms, camps and competitions is vehemently denying accusations that the enterprise helped facilitate alleged sexual abuse at gyms across the Southeast outlined in a series of federal lawsuits, and has hired a high-powered defamation lawyer to look into the case. The lawsuit goes on to allege that Cheer Extreme coaches and administrators were often present as one of John Doe 1s abusers would openly touch and caress him. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE &online.rainn.org). The first allegations made in South Carolina. Now, the widening inquiry has ensnared other individuals. 2:20-cv-02600-SHL. American Spirit and Cheer Essentials, Inc. (apparel company), Rockstar Championships (event producer), Jeff & Craig Cheer (cheer camps), and Ashley Haygood (school cheer parent), along with Falanga Law Offices. They are some of the bravest young men and women weve ever known and we wont ever stop fighting for them. A Clarkston, Michigan All-Star Cheer academy has filed at least the second proposed class action alleging Varsity Brands, Varsity Spirit, Varsity Spirit Fashion & Supplies and U.S. All Star Federation have engaged in unlawful conduct to suppress competition and charge inflated prices within the All-Star Cheer competition and apparel markets. Hurry! The complaint alleges Varsity employees resigned from positions at the organization because of the abuse and systemic failures they noticed, particularly when it came to policies related to athlete safety and rampant use of alcohol and drug use of athletes at cheerleading competitions. The notice of dismissal can be foundhere. The cheerleading powerhouse retained Thomas Clare, who gained distinction as the co-counsel for Dominion Voting Systems, which has accused Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani allies of former President Donald Trump of defamation for falsely claiming the election was stolen. National Cheer Safety Foundation founder Kimberly Archie told me that Varsity is a formidable opponents with skilled attorneys and that any case against the corporate behemoth is an uphill battle., Varsity spokeswoman Susan Crumpton told Libit Varsity Brands is pleased with the courts decision and the obvious care that the court took in examining plaintiffs highly problematic discovery conduct., Count on this news outlet to provide continued coverage of the pending antitrust and sexual misconduct litigation . Clares letter states Sellers made false and damaging allegations in court papers without facts. The lawsuits allege leaders at Varsity Spirit - as the dominant provider of cheer competitions and camps - failed to provide a safe environment. Jerry Harris, a former cheerleader, and coach who rose to fame from the Netflix documentary series Cheer., sentenced to serve 12 years in federalprison, The cheerleading industry and Jerry Harris' crimes, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It also claimed a list of more than 150 suspensions and bans online does not contain important information and is not updated regularly. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WYFF-TV. Here are the best sandals to wear to the pool this summer. Sellers provided WRAL News with a written response. Plaintiffs' lawyers in a filing on Friday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee revealed the proposed deal resolving prospective class action claims against Varsity Brands and two affiliated business entities, including Memphis-based Varsity Spirit LLC. In the amended complaint filed Thursday, Foster is accused of providing drugs to an unidentified plaintiff at a cheer skills camp in Miami when the plaintiff was 18. Children should be protected and safe at all times, and no child should ever be exposed to the kind of abhorrent behavior and abuse alleged in the complaint(s). GREENVILLE, S.C. (WMC) - Attorneys with Strom Law Firm filed federal lawsuits on Tuesday on behalf of three additional abuse survivors in the ongoing Varsity Spirit abuse scandal. Got a tip for a story? Bakari Sellers, Jessica Fickling, and Alexandra Benevento are representing the victim in this case, as well as others. (Reuters) - Varsity Brands LLC has agreed to pay $43.5 million to resolve a federal lawsuit that the student apparel company and producer of cheerleading events abused its industry dominance, causing private gyms and spectators to pay artificially inflated prices. Bakari Sellers, Jessica Fickling, and Alexandra Benevento are representing the victim in this case, as well as others. Impair and buy up actual and potential rivals who could possibly threaten Varsitys dominance; Impose exclusionary agreements or terms on All-Star gyms, forcing them to agree to patronize Varsity exclusively (or near exclusively) in the competition and apparel markets; and. All rights reserved. Dylan Nolan is the director of special projects at FITSNews. The lawsuitclaims another defendant in the lawsuit, Premier Athletics based in Knoxville, Tennessee, allowed a coach to abuse cheerleaders, while under the control and authority of Varsity, USASF, USA Cheer and others named in the suit. Private gyms, spectators alleged anticompetitive practices, Varsity had fought claims it said "misconstrue" U.S. law. The lawsuit also named Varsity Spirit, a company that hosts cheer events. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. We are committed to supporting survivors and their pursuit of justice against those individuals responsible. Attorneys say the lawsuit was filed against a young athlete who says he was sexually abused by coaches at Cheer Extreme gyms in Raleigh and Kernersville as well as a Varsity and USASF-approved choreographer.The victim, referenced as John Doe 1, was a teenager at the time of the abuse, attorney's said. Varsity Spirit is trying to prevent a former vice president from turning over a trove of company documents to two groups of plaintiffs suing the multi-billion-dollar cheerleading company for alleged antitrust violations. Harris was convicted of the production of child pornography after soliciting videos and images from two 14-year-old boys. Dylan primarily covers education when he isnt producing video content. Varsity Brands, USASF, BSN Sports, USA Cheer, Herff Jones, Jeff Webb, and two capital & holding companies. Copyright 2022 WHNS. The touching, which the complaint identifies as grooming behavior, occurred both at the gym and at his home, according to the lawsuit. Updated: 4:36 PM CDT November 2, 2022. Webb is currently the chairman of the board of directors of Varsity Brands LLC. The lawsuit also claims the groups failed to do background checks as they said they would or follow procedures for bans and suspensions over sexual abuse. Varsity Spirit has been named as a defendant in multiple lawsuits brought in three states by civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers and lawyers with the Strom Law Firm; the lawsuits allege widespread sexual abuse of cheerleaders by coaches at various gyms in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Were talking about serious repeated abuse that was reported to everyone, including the Greenville County Sheriffs (Office)," Bakari Sellers, an attorney with Strom Law Firm, which filed the lawsuit, said in an emailed press release. At this point, we are seeing a pattern, said Sellers. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Benevento said she expects more victims to come forward in the future. At this point, we are seeing a pattern, said Sellers. The fact that brave men and women have come forward to make specific allegations of abuse against individual coaches, and others employed and supervised by gym owners, does not give you license to make blatantly false public claims about Varsity Spirit, Specifically, Varsity Spirit took issue with a recent court filing in which Sellers alleged the company served as a central player in the scheme to host exploitative events where minor athletes were subjected to sexual abuse and assault under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Clare also took issue with another allegation in the court filing that Varsity Spirits environment promoting free access to underage minors for the purpose of sexual solicitation was the method by which Defendants recruited new gym owners, coaches, choreographers, videographers, and other affiliated personnel.. A federal lawsuit filed Thursday against Rockstar Cheer, Rockstar owners Scott and Kathy Foster, Varsity Spirit, the U.S. All Star Federation, and others alleges a criminal conspiracy to subject te We are committed to supporting survivors and their pursuit of justice against those individuals responsible. According to the lawsuit, the survivor reported the abuse to coaches at Cheer Extreme Raleigh, including All Star Coach and Director Chase Burris, but nothing was ever done to stop it and the police were never notified. According to the lawsuit the survivor, referenced as John Doe 1 was just a . 8 min read Varsity Spirit, the Bain Capital-owned, billion-dollar cheerleading company fighting a trio of federal antitrust lawsuits, is now squaring off. GREENVILLE BASED ROCK STAR CHEER AND THE UNITED STATE ALL STAR FEDERATION. Click here to sign up for our newsletter! Warrants lead to arrest of man in Laurens Co. Father in surgery after being shot by son in Anderson, Bank of America CEO says company to slow hiring,, Teen inmate found dead at Chatham County Detention, Charlotte rallies late to upset Clemson 3-2 to bring, Down to their final strike, Tennessee rallies to, Wimmer HR helps South Carolina power past N.C. State, Greenvilles Rabe named SC Gatorade Player Of The, Best nonslip sandals for summer pool days, Top-rated Amazon TV projectors for summer movie nights, Bank of America CEO predicts mild recession, Teen inmate found dead at Chatham Co. But they failed, said Benevento. It turns my stomach every time.According to the lawsuit, the survivor reported the abuse to coaches at Cheer Extreme Raleigh, including All Star Coach and Director Chase Burris, but nothing was ever done to stop it and the police were never notified. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. At the end of the day, we are talking about people charged with protecting children. There are still two pending antitrust matters, also before judge Lipman, that have yet to be resolved. The attorneys also filed federal complaints for teenage survivors of sexual abuse by cheer coaches at gyms in Memphis, Tennessee, and Raleigh, North Carolina. Falanga issued a statement to that effect saying my sword is chipped, and my shield is bent but we live to fight them another day.. 24, 2020). The complaint also alleges Feeley raped the same plaintiff at his apartment after supplying her with drugs and alcohol, potentially with Fosters knowledge. They are some of the bravest young men and women weve ever known and we wont ever stop fighting for themTo read the full lawsuit, click here. RALEIGH, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Strom Law Firm announced a new federal lawsuit has been filed against Varsity Spirit after a survivor in Raleigh, North Carolina came forward on Thursday. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. JAMES POLLARD Associated Press/Report for America, FILE - Attorney Alexandra Benevento, center, speaks with reporters during a news conference announcing a cheerleader abuse lawsuit filed in Tennessee on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. In so doing, Varsitys Exclusionary Scheme has led to reduced output, supracompetitive prices, and reduced choice in both Relevant Markets.. Get class action lawsuit news sent to your inbox sign up for ClassAction.orgs newsletterhere. KERNERSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, AS WELL AS A CHOREOGRAPHER. Varsity Spirit submitted the original trademark application for USASF and also funds it. RELATED: Ex-'Cheer' star Harris gets 12 years for seeking photos, sex, RELATED: Former star of Netflix's 'Cheer' pleads guilty in child pornography case, RELATED: Supreme Court rules for cursing cheerleader over Snapchat post. Another antitrust suit filed by Fusion Elite All Stars reached a tentative settlement agreement, leaving only a suit filed by a group of aggrieved parents yet to be litigated. Lipmans dismissal of the lawsuit didnt address the merits of the case, but rather cited the plaintiffs reckless disregard for the rules of the discovery process. For Varsity Spirit, the USASF and Bain Capital, these survivors didnt matter. Varsity Spirit has been . But they failed, said Benevento. This is a nationwide epidemic of abuse that infects all of competitive cheerleading enabled and concealed by Varsity Spirit, the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) and Bain Capital., Were talking about a financial empire based on physical, emotional and sexual abuse, said Tennessee State Rep. John Ray Clemmons. . We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! MEMPHIS, Tenn Memphis-based Varsity Spirit, the nationwide cheerleading and dance competition company recently embroiled in multiple lawsuits claiming . Email him here. The lawsuits depict Varsity's business model. We will keep listening, learning, and championing safety and security to best protect children in this sport. The lawsuits allege leaders at Varsity Spirit as the dominant provider of cheer competitions and camps failed to provide a safe environment. Sellers filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a male athlete, Federal lawsuit alleges sexual abuse at Raleigh Cheer Extreme gym, Wake County Public Schools cut ties with Varsity Spirit, Parents frustrated with Wake schools' severing of ties with cheerleading company after lawsuit, Counting down the top 20 ice cream flavors in America, Tracking the tropics: Tropical Storm Arlene forms in Gulf of Mexico, Christ the King repeats as 1A girls soccer champs with another win over Woods Charter, Newtown Pride FC to face SLC FC in TST's $1M championship game, Teenage girl shot on Park Glen Drive in Raleigh, Death of 19-year-old inmate at Chatham County jail under investigation, Rev. The lawsuit alleges that Premier Athletics and other companies allowed drugs and alcohol to be given to minors, and adults to send sexually explicit messages to minors. One unidentified female plaintiff alleges a variety of abuse by three coaches Kathy Foster, Scott Fosters wife, for bullying, body-shaming, and excessive and punishing training; Plank, for sending nude photos and videos of himself masturbating to the plaintiff when she was only 13; and Hinton, for forcing the plaintiff to perform oral sex on him when she was 14. From the complaint: The lawsuit looks to represent individuals and entities in the U.S. who directly paid Varsity Brands or any wholly or partially owned subsidiary for registration, entrance, or other fees and expenses for participation by an All-Star team or cheerleader in one of the defendants competitions, or for apparel from March 26, 2016 through until the time the exclusionary scheme alleged in the complaint ends. Libit reported that plaintiffs attorney Robert Falanga intends to appeal Lipmans ruling. This is an industry-wide problem. The coaches, along with Rockstar founder Scott Foster, are accused of a range of misconduct, including rape, providing drugs to athletes, groping and inappropriate touching, and the exchange of sexual images. Altogether, the lawsuit said it all adds up to a system which brings in money for the defendants while putting young athletes in harms way. In the statement, Premier Athletics said it heard June 26 from an athlete who reported receiving inappropriate photos from the coach. We are outraged that predators took advantage of cheerleading programs to abuse innocent children. This browser does not support PDFs. Leverage their control of All-Star cheers governing bodies, including the U.S.A. Federation for Sport Cheering, by impairing actual and potential rivals to the point where theyre driven out of business or relegated to effective B-league status. Varsity Spirit sent ABC24 the following statement: "First and foremost, our concern is for the survivors and their families. In a letter Tuesday to Sellers and his firm also given to the AP by Varsity Spirit, Clare said the law firm had been making blatantly false claims about Varsity Spirit in what amounts to sham litigation., As Varsity Spirit has previously and repeatedly stated, its concern, first and foremost, is for the survivors and their safety, and Varsity Spirit wholeheartedly supports survivors in their pursuit of justice against the individuals responsible, Clare wrote. ", In the settlement papers, lawyers for direct purchase plaintiffs gyms paying to register at Varsity events and spectators paying to see them said the proposed deal, which is subject to a court's approval, was the "result of lengthy and hard-fought litigation over two-and-a-half years, and intense negotiations. Premier Athletics received reports in late May or June, but the coach continued to access the gym as recently as this month, according to the boys in the lawsuit. THE VICTIM SAYS HE WAS A TEENAGER WHEN THE ABUSE HAPPENED. Others named in the lawsuit include Charlesbank Capital Partners and Bain Capital. The suit said athletes cheering for a Varsity-affiliated gym must buy uniforms, accessories, and more from the gym, which is signed to multi-year supply contracts. A California All-Star Cheer gym alleges in a lawsuit that Varsity Brands and a group of subsidiaries have violated federal antitrust laws by charging artificially inflated prices for participation in All-Star competitions and for All-Star apparel. Varsity, Varsitys owner Bain Capital, Varsity's former owner Charlesbank Partners, and cheerleadings governing body the United States All-Star Federation are alleged to have created and sustained an environment that enabled abuse. The American cheerleading company behind the sports top uniforms, camps and competitions is evaluating a possible defamation case against lawyers who have named the enterprise in a series of federal lawsuits alleging sexual abuse at gyms across the Southeast. The lawsuit alleges abuse against the teenage victim, referred to as John Doe 1, by coaches at Cheer Extreme gyms in Raleigh and Kernersville and by a choreographer approved by Varsity Spirit and the United States All Star Federation. More here.Sept. As these companies are announcing hundreds of millions of dollars in new investments to grow that empire, these young athletes are being abused and, instead of protecting them, Varsity Spirit, USASF and USA Cheer either ignored and dismissed these allegations or quietly allowed the abusers to relocate to a new gym or facility without parents knowing the truth.. The cheerleading company that makes the sport's top uniforms, camps and competitions is vehemently denying accusations it helped facilitate alleged sexual abuse at gyms across the Southeast outlined in a series of federal lawsuits. That said, Mr. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. A Clarkston, Michigan All-Star Cheer academy has filed at least the second proposed class action alleging Varsity Brands, Varsity Spirit, Varsity Spirit Fashion & Supplies and U.S. All Star Federation have engaged in unlawful conduct to suppress competition and charge inflated prices within the All-Star Cheer competition and apparel markets. The coach webb is currently the chairman varsity spirit lawsuit the day, we are that. First and foremost, our concern is for the survivors and their pursuit of justice against those individuals responsible a! 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