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Former New York Yankees star Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara have been named as defendants in a high-profile child sex abuse lawsuit initially submitted four months prior.
In January, the couple faced allegations of concealing child sexual abuse that transpired at their residence and a summer retreat tied to their church. The plaintiffs, a young girl and her mother, filed the case in the State Supreme Court in Westchester County, New York.
Previous Allegations & Court Filings
The original lawsuit asserted that the plaintiff suffered abuse from an older youth at events organized by the church, where both Riveras serve as clergy. Despite implicating them for neglecting to safeguard the victim, they were not initially named as defendants.
However, on Wednesday, attorney Adam Horowitz, representing the girl, announced that the Riveras are now named defendants in an amended court document.
Mariano Rivera vs. Refuge of Hope LLC
It has been established that Mariano, a Baseball Hall of Famer, and Clara are unaffiliated with Refuge of Hope – the church and limited liability company (LLC) established by the couple initially sued.
Reportedly, the LLC also encompassed their former home address, which they sold last year.
Details of the Allegations
Although included as defendants, Mariano and Clara have faced no criminal complaints. Joseph A. Ruta, their attorney, labeled claims that they disregarded abuse reports as ‘entirely unfounded’.
Ruta further revealed that they discovered the charges in 2022 following a letter demanding monetary compensation from an attorney.
Claims from the Original Lawsuit
The initial complaint alleged that the plaintiff, identified as ‘Jane Doe’, was persuaded by Clara to participate in a summer internship hosted by the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida. The Center was associated with Refuge of Hope.
During this internship, Doe allegedly encountered abuse from an older female camper, then a minor.
At the camp, Doe supposedly endured multiple incidents of abuse in the dormitories and showers. The lawsuit details that the older girl ‘fondled and penetrated’ Doe’s intimate areas.
Urgings for Silence
The lawsuit alleges that when Doe’s mother learned of the supposed abuse she reached out to Clara, a senior pastor, and raised concerns about her daughter’s safety. The mother was supposedly reassured that Clara and Mariano, a Baseball Hall of Famer, would address the matter during their visit.
Nevertheless, upon their arrival, the Riveras supposedly ‘separately confronted Doe’ and ‘deterred her from discussing the abuse to prevent trouble for the church and camp, according to the suit.
Further Incidents of Abuse
After the camp and internship ended, Doe reportedly resumed attending Refuge of Hope services in New York. According to the complaint, a subsequent alleged abuse incident by the same older girl, occurred in August 2018 at a barbecue held by the Riveras at their then $4 million Rye, New York estate. The event was adults only.
The older girl had reportedly abused Doe again, with prosecutors alleging the girl had carried out actions fitting the definition of sexual misconduct under Article 130 of the New York Penal Law.
During 2021, Doe allegedly also fell victim to sexual abuse by the adult son of an associate pastor. The son was then a youth leader for Refuge of Hope. It has further been alleged that the Riveras ‘misrepresented their activities and venues as secure, ethical, and risk-free, despite being aware, or reasonably presumed to be aware, of the risks involved,’ the original suit asserted.
Mariano Rivera: Background in Baseball & Influential Network:
Two decades of dedicated service to the New York Yankees was rewarded through five World Series titles, cementing Rivera’s legacy. Elevated to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019, Rivera has long been a vocal endorser of prominent figures, including former U.S. President Donald Trump.