Lawsuit Claims Child Sexual Abuse At Greenwich Boys & Girls Club

GREENWICH, CT — The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich is being sued by a former member who claims he was sexually abused as a child by a former counselor at the club in the 1970s.

In a lawsuit filed on July 2 in Stamford Superior Court, the plaintiff, who is not referred to by his name but is called "John James" in the document, claims he was sexually assaulted by a former counselor named Andrew Atkinson "9-10" times in 1975 to 1976.

The plaintiff was 13 years old at the time, according to the lawsuit. In addition to sexually abusing the plaintiff, Atkinson also threatened him and punched him on more than one occasion.

At least one of the sexual assaults occurred in New York at the Rye Playland amusement park, the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit also accuses club leaders at the time of being aware of the abuse, but they did nothing to stop it.

Atkinson is accused of sexually assaulting other minors at the club for several years until the mid-1980s, according to the lawsuit.

Several other former club members have filed lawsuits alleging Atkinson sexually abused them, according to the Greenwich Time, and during a 2019 interview with the publication, Atkinson denied the allegations.

The James lawsuit is seeking monetary damages in excess of $15,000 against the Greenwich club. At least one of the other lawsuits is seeking more than $15 million, according to the Greenwich Time.

In a statement to the publication, the Greenwich club said it respects those who have come forward, and it takes the allegations seriously. The organization, it adds, will continue working with the community and protecting the health and well-being of children.