When parents drop off their children at the YMCA/YWCA, they expect them to be treated with respect and provided opportunities to learn a sport, craft or game. What they don’t expect is that their child could be subjected to sexual abuse, but unfortunately, some YMCA or YWCA volunteers and employees may actually use their position to prey on children in their care.

Perpetrators of sexual abuse may be charged with felony crimes that keep them behind bars for decades, preventing them from victimizing other children. 

For those who were sexually abused as children while under the care of the YMCA/YWCA, the statute of limitations on such allegations may have run out, but many states have introduced a Child Victims Act, which allows even decades-old allegations of child sexual abuse to go forward through a civil lawsuit.

Among the states allowing at least a limited retroactive look-back window for claims previously impossible due to the passage of time are New York, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.

Pennsylvania has a similar law making its way through the state’s legislature. It could have ended up on a referendum to voters in the spring 2021, according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. However, a procedural mistake has delayed the proposed amendment to the state constitution, and survivors will have to wait until at least 2023 to see the amendment on the ballot, Penn Live reports. The secretary of state at the time, Kathy Boockvar, resigned due to her department’s failure, per ABC 27.

Former YMCA Swim Coach Charged

A 30-year-old Pennsylvania woman is facing charges of felony corruption of minors, indecent exposure, and indecent assault of a minor after allegedly sexually abusing a boy from the time he was 11 years old until he was 13. 

Emily Miller of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, was the youth’s YMCA swim coach when she allegedly committed the abuse while in hotel rooms during three different weekend-long swim competitions in York, Pennsylvania, between 2016 and 2018, according to the Chambersburg Public Opinion, a website affiliated with USA Today. David Miller, Emily’s husband, allegedly also was in the hotel room during the abuse and encouraged it. He faces similar child sexual abuse charges. 

After hearing of the charges, the Chambersburg Public Opinion reported Waynesboro Area YMCA executive director Amanda Gietka released a statement that said in part, “Upon learning of this criminal complaint, the Y was fully supportive and compliant with the recommendations of local authorities. At the Waynesboro Area YMCA, the safety and wellbeing of all children in our community is a top priority. We conduct thorough screenings and regular trainings for all Y employees.”

Only about 9% of substantiated child sexual abuse perpetrators are female, according to statistics provided by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the largest abuse prevention, awareness, and response organization in the U.S. Still, lasting effects of child sexual abuse may haunt the abused person throughout their life, regardless of the gender of the perpetrator, and regardless of how long ago it took place. In many cases, survivors of sexual abuse may not come forward about their abuse or years or even decades.

Holding Abusers Accountable

No matter how long sexual abuse occurred, if you live in one of the several states that have enacted a Child Victims Act that includes a look-back window, you could be eligible to pursue compensation through a sexual abuse lawsuit.

A suit against the YMCA/YWCA could hold the organization responsible for hiring practices that enabled the abuser to commit the sexual acts or for illegal sexual abuse that occurred on its premises.

While no amount of financial gain can erase the pain of the past, you may find a sense of solace knowing the perpetrator and the organization that allowed the abuse to occur have been held accountable in a court of law. 

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.