Boerne, Texas – A civil lawsuit has been filed against Boerne’s former gymnastics coach, who is serving time in prison for sexually abusing several girls at a gym camp.
The lawsuit names Michael Spiller, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in October 2023, as a defendant.
Also named as defendants are Spiller’s former employer, Boerne Gymnastics Center, owner Lorna Spellman, and USA Gymnastics, the national governing body of USA Gymnastics.
The lawsuit was filed by the Simpson Tugel law firm on behalf of the mothers of two former female gymnasts at the center.
The lawsuit alleges that Spiller sexually abused and molested gymnasts at the center in April 2022. The lawsuit alleges that the gymnasts were separated from their co-workers and classmates when the alleged abuse occurred.
The suit charges that Senter and Spellman were “aware of Spiller’s abuse and inappropriate conduct, but failed to take steps to prevent further abuse, including the abuse suffered by Plaintiffs.” . Spellman was also solely responsible for hiring coaches, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit points out that despite the Larry Nassar scandal that shocked the world of gymnastics, “long-time abusers and pedophiles like Spiller remained in gymnastics.”
“Based on information and belief, USAG is committed to a pattern of hiring coaches, staff, and volunteers to maintain members, coaches, and clubs known to be dangerous to young athletes, including Spiller Gymnastics and Boerne Gymnastics. practices,” the lawsuit states. . “By allowing Mr. Spiller to remain a registered coach with USAG and allowing Boerne Gymnastics to remain a registered member gym, USAG is providing the gymnastics community with the confidence that Mr. Spiller is a safe, reliable, and ethical gym. This led parents (like the plaintiffs in this case) to believe that their children training with Spiller at Boerne Gymnastics were safe. However, the children were actually at risk.”
The lawsuit asks the jury to award unspecified monetary damages for physical and emotional suffering, medical expenses and other reasons.
This is the second lawsuit the law firm has filed against Spiller. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are two former female athletes who claim Spiller sexually abused them while participating in the center’s Circus Arts for Kids program in the early 2000s.
Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
