Ten athletes file claims in San Jose State sexual abuse case
Ten former San Jose State athletes have filed tort claims with the California State University system as part of an expanding sexual abuse case involving a trainer and school officials’ handling of the allegations.
The claimants, whose names were redacted in the documents obtained Thursday by the Bay Area News Group, allege they were victims of sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination.
They filed the torts on Monday, a day before former deputy athletic director Steve O’Brien filed a wrongful termination and retaliation lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court alleging he was fired for trying to preserve the integrity of the internal investigation into the women’s claims of sexual abuse.
The tort claims have come in the aftermath of the school’s response to sexual abuse charges by former members of the SJSU women’s swim team against former athletic trainer Scott Shaw.
The athletes’ claims allege that the state university system violated federal and state laws by allowing Shaw to have access to young women, including minors, without effective supervision.
They also said university officials failed to prevent Shaw from committing sexually offensive acts against student-athletes, including the claimants, failed to appropriately train Shaw and failed to take necessary preventative and remedial actions in response to complaints. REPORT: EX-LSU AD WANTED MILES FIRED AMID SEXUAL COMPLAINTS >> LSU’s former athletic director recommended in 2013 that Les Miles be fired as Tigers football coach because of his behavior with female student workers, according to a law firm’s 148-page review of how the university has handled sexual misconduct complaints.
Then-athletic director Joe Alleva’s recommendation to former LSU President F. King Alexander is detailed in a report made public by the Husch Blackwell law firm. The report offers a scathing view of the resources and attention LSU has dedicated to such complaints campuswide and also has resulted in the suspensions of two senior athletic officials.
Miles, who now coaches at Kansas, was investigated after two female student workers in LSU’s football program accused the coach of inappropriate behavior.
Golf
AFFIDAVIT: MAN FOUND WOODS UNCONSCIOUS AFTER SUV CRASH >> Tiger Woods was unconscious in a mangled SUV after he crashed the vehicle in Southern California last week, according to a court document that also revealed a nearby resident and not a sheriff’s deputy was first on the scene.
The witness, who lives near the accident scene in Rolling Hills Estates just outside Los Angeles, heard the crash and walked to the SUV, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Johann Schloegl wrote in the affidavit. The man told deputies that Woods had lost consciousness and did not respond to his questions.
The first deputy, Carlos Gonzalez, arrived minutes later the morning of Feb. 23 and has said Woods appeared to be in shock but was conscious and able to answer basic questions. Woods suffered severe injuries to his right leg and cuts to his face.
CONNERS BUILDS 1-SHOT LEAD AT BAY HILL >> Corey Conners spent more time grinding out pars than chasing birdies, and that proved to be the right recipe at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as Bay Hill began to bake under a warm sun. Conners surged into the lead with a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole—hissecondeagleon that hole in two days — for a 3-under 69 and a oneshot advantage over former Bay Hill winner Martin Laird (67).
Baseball
ASTROS MINUS 8 PITCHERS BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS PROTOCOLS >> The Houston Astros are minus eight pitchers because of COVID-19 protocols.
Manager Dusty Baker said that pitchers Cristian Javier, Pedro Báez, Francis Martes, Enoli Paredes and Hector Velazquez were out. On Thursday, Baker said pitchers Bryan Abreu, Ronel Blanco and Luis Garcia were sent away from the complex.
It was not known whether the eight pitchers had tested positive for the virus or had come in close contact with someone who had tested positive.