Sex Crimes Suit Against Darien Park District

DARIEN, IL – Darien Park District, among other entities, is being sued in connection with sexual assaults that the lawsuit alleges happened on the district's property.

Filed in Cook County Court on Monday, the lawsuit said a figure skating coach raped a girl he was training. The document named the coach, but the man has not been criminally charged.

The park district owns the Darien Sportsplex, where the crimes are alleged to have happened.

The other defendants include MA Figure Skating Academy and U.S. Figure Skating.

The park district's lawyer, Gina Madden, said in an email to Patch, "(T)he safety of the patrons and staff are of the utmost importance to the Darien Park District. The Park District has only recently been made aware of the lawsuit and will be reviewing the allegations. The Park District does not comment on pending litigation and has no further information to provide at this time."

In a statement to Patch, U.S. Figure Skating said it would not address the specific case, but encouraged suspected abuse to be reported to local law enforcement, the U.S. Center for SafeSport or U.S. Figure Skating.

The MA Figure Skating Academy did not return a message left on Facebook.

The lawsuit also names other coaches it said should have been aware of the issues.

According to the litigation, the girl's jumping coach made "impermissible, non-consensual physical contact ... that was not related nor necessary to figure skating and/or jump coaching."

The crimes occurred from 2016 to 2018, the lawsuit said.

The two plaintiffs are listed as "next best friends," a legal term for those who represent someone underage.

The lawsuit alleged the park district and other entities failed to follow or ignored proper protocols and procedures for interactions between adult coaches and minor athletes.

The jumping coach was allowed into areas with the girl that were not publicly viewable, where another adult could not easily interrupt them, the lawsuit said.

The plaintiffs noted U.S. Figure Skating has been accused before of failing to protect athletes.

The plaintiffs are represented by the Hale & Monico law firm.