Legislation signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom will allow sexual abuse victims to "finally confront in court their abusers and the organizations that protected predators," a development that "could have major ramifications" for USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming and the USOPC, according to Scott Reid of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. The NGBs are "all currently facing several sex abuse lawsuits in California and have avoided dozens others because of statute of limitations." Bay Area-based attorney Robert Allard said that he is "aware of at least a dozen cases against USA Swimming that could now move forward under the new law." USA Gymnastics and USA Swimming are "both under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service for their handling of sex abuse cases and financial practices related to sex abuse claims." AB 218 and previous attempts at similar legislation have been a "major concern for USA Swimming and USA Gymnastics for much of the past decade." USA Swimming, USA Gymnastics, USOPC and other sport organizations "could be especially vulnerable under the new law which says damages can be tripled" in cases where a victim's sexual abuse "followed efforts to cover up previous sexual abuse" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/15).
