Sarah Ehekircher has filed a civil suit against her former coach Scott MacFarland, among others, over sexual abuse she says she suffered at MacFarland’s hands in the 1980s.
The Orange County Register reports that Ehekircher has filed a suit against MacFarland, USA Swimming, and the Mission Viejo Nadadores swim club based in California. Ehekircher alleges sexual abuse of a minor, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The suit says that the Mission Viejo club “had Colorado and California locations at the time.” Mission Viejo (California) head coach Mark Schubert says the two clubs “are in no way connected,” but rather two teams with the same name chartered in different states.
The lawsuit comes under California’s new law that extends the statute of limitations. That allows victims of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits up to five years past the discovery of the abuse, or until the victim turns 40. Ehekircher’s suit follows a set of three lawsuits leveled at USA Swimming and various clubs and coaches in June.
Ehekircher swam for MacFarland in Colorado, but the lawsuit alleges that he raped Ehekircher in Irvine, California when she was 17.
In 2018, Ehekircher came forward with claims that MacFarland of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. She said the relationship turned sexual when she was 17 and he was 34 while the two were on a trip to a swim meet in Irvine. Ehekircher said the sexual relationship continued, and that MacFarland impregnated her twice, both ending in abortions. She left the swim team at the University of Arkansas after the first abortion.
MacFarland says his relationship with Ehekircher didn’t turn sexual until she was 18. USA Swimming did not at the time ban relationships between athletes and coaches.
Ehekircher filed a complaint against MacFarland in 2010, but USA Swimming’s national board of review process didn’t find enough evidence to punish or ban MacFarland. When Ehekircher went public with her claims in 2018, MacFarland was still coaching the Magnolia Aquatic Club in Texas, though he retired from coaching after her claims were widely reported.
Ewww p-yuke these comments so far. Let’s support this woman.
This case was adjudicated by National Board of Review 10 years ago. All parties found innocent. Regurgitated news.
Yes in a kangaroo court, with a jury of 3, one of which was general counsel for USAS.
Stop drinking the look aid..
I would suggest peer review your articles before publishing…………
It would be proper and fitting to get the exact, correct name of the Colorado team. It was not Nadadores.
filing this lawsuit in California seems like a bit of a stretch.
I totally agree with you based on this article- but it was Swimswam’s interpretation of what reality is.
Jurisdiction is found if the tort was committed in the state and there is specific jurisdiction over the defendant. Could be removed to federal court on diversity jurisdiction but the filing in CA appears perfectly appropriate.
Gotta love your interpretation of that facts Swim Swam