Victim's Attorneys Manly Stewart & Finaldi File Lawsuit Against Famed Gymnastic Coaches Béla And Márta Károlyi And Disgraced Former U.S. Olympic Team Physician Larry Nassar For Alleged Sexual Assault Of U.S. Women's National Team Gymnast

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys for Jane "LM" Doe, a nationally ranked NCAA champion gymnast and former member of the United States women's national team filed suit alleging that U.S.A Gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar sexually assaulted and abused her while she was training at the U.S. Gymnastics team training center at Károlyi Ranch. Link to complaint here.

"Our client is one more victim of the former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, a man who has admitted publicly that he routinely performed osteopathic treatments involving vaginal penetration of minor girls. The complaint alleges that Béla and Márta Károlyi created a toxic environment of fear and intimidation at their ranch which was the perfect environment for Dr. Nassar's abuse of our client and other children at the ranch," said victim's attorney John Manly.

According to the complaint the Károlyis physically abused and emotionally abused the child gymnasts, deprived them of food, screamed obscenities at them, required them to train when they were ill and shamed their physical appearance.

The suit also alleges that Dr. Nassar took advantage of the conditions created by the Károlyis and groomed the children for sexual abuse by acting as their friend, confidant and advocate. The suit alleges Nassar was given unmonitored private contact with the victim, sneaking her food, candy and other items prohibited by the Károlyis and building a relationship with her in order to sexually abuse her.

Dr. Nassar was fired as team doctor for U.S.A. Gymnastics, a position he held from 1996 to 2015.

In early September, Manly, Stewart & Finaldi filed suit on behalf another alleged victim of Dr. Nassar, Jane "JD" Doe a bronze medalist at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Other women have filed complaints against Dr. Nassar with the Michigan State Police according to law enforcement officials. Nassar's attorneys explained his procedures to investigators.

"Dr. Nassar has never denied that he used medical techniques involving vaginal penetration, and in fact, he provided the police with detailed information about the techniques he used to treat athletes and patients for decades," the statement from his attorneys said.

On September 20, following the lawsuit by Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, Dr. Nassar was fired from his position at Michigan State University.

"U.S.A. Gymnastics, the Károlyis and others built a multi-million dollar empire through the degradation and abuse of many of America's finest young athletes. They must be held responsible for their actions and thousands of children who participate in the sport of gymnastics must be protected," said victim's attorney Vince Finaldi, a partner in Manly, Stewart & Finaldi.

Manly, Stewart & Finaldi is California's leading law firm representing child victims of sexual abuse.  The firm has represented more than 150 victims of clergy sexual abuse in California and hundreds of others throughout the United States.  The firm also represented plaintiffs in the $140,000,000 settlement against LAUSD in the Miramonte case, the largest sex abuse settlement against a School District in the US.

SOURCE Manly, Stewart and Finaldi