Parents Olympian files lawsuit against USAG physician

[profmom]

For all parents on the board whose daughters have had consultations with Nassar, please know that I am thinking of you today and really hoping that no members of our community were injured. My heart is absolutely breaking. If it turns out that USAG concealed information about him, I hope that the individuals involved are held responsible to the fullest extent possible under law.

 

[Mom2-4]

As someone who works in the medical field and has seen a life destroyed by unfounded accusation. I really hope the truth does come out either way.

 

[suebee]

I'm just so worried that many other gymnasts were victims. It seems like he had a lot of access to gymnasts and from what I know about sexual predators, their abuse is not just a one or two time situation.

 

[Lunde]

I am very shocked that USAG, who knew of the allegations, allowed him to resign and continue to work in the gymnastics community rather than suspend him during the investigations.

 

[sce]

I am very shocked that USAG, who knew of the allegations, allowed him to resign and continue to work in the gymnastics community rather than suspend him during the investigations.

I don't know how things work legally with employment The USAG statement says that they went to law enforcement and that he ceased to be affiliated with USAG. Not sure what else they could do at that point? I mean really, how do you stop someone form resigning?

 

[GymDad9.9]

I don't know how things work legally with employment The USAG statement says that they went to law enforcement and that he ceased to be affiliated with USAG. Not sure what else they could do at that point? I mean really, how do you stop someone form resigning?

Well, he was a physician, presumably state-certified. I'd start with that State Medical Board.

 

[Faith]

In the Uk any allegation of that kind would result in that person being unable to work with children. We have what's called a DBS check, and anyone working with children or vulnerable adults must have this check. It cross references police and various other agencies.

Until he had been cleared this person would not have passed a dbs and therefore would not have been able to gain a position, paid or voluntary, working in a position of responsibility.

In the US, would he not have been suspended from the physicians register at least?

 

[Gymmommy71]

I don't know how things work legally with employment The USAG statement says that they went to law enforcement and that he ceased to be affiliated with USAG. Not sure what else they could do at that point? I mean really, how do you stop someone form resigning?

Was he still treating kids at Gedderts after they got these reports on him (sounds like its been almost a year since the USAG first heard)? I would think the USAG easily could have done something to keep him from treating their member gymnasts at one of their member clubs.

 

[profmom]

In the Uk any allegation of that kind would result in that person being unable to work with children. We have what's called a DBS check, and anyone working with children or vulnerable adults must have this check. It cross references police and various other agencies.

Until he had been cleared this person would not have passed a dbs and therefore would not have been able to gain a position, paid or voluntary, working in a position of responsibility.

In the US, would he not have been suspended from the physicians register at least?

Not without a complaint.

Remember, too, that the US remains strongly committed to federalism, and institutional systems tend to be relatively closed. Many licensed professions manage the licensing process through state organizations, and a proceeding addressing someone's license in one state may not have any mechanism for notifying other states' licensing institutions that something has happened. In some fields, it's all left to self reporting on the part of the licensed individuals. Further, unless criminal activity has crossed state lines (i.e., an individual has been transported across state lines for criminal purposes or we're talking about transfer of illegal pornography over the internet), states are the primary regulators of criminally coercive sexual behavior. There isn't any effective national reporting system, which is why offenders are often able to pick up and move to another state and start over, for good or ill.

 

[sewgood]

I believe he has been working at MSU's sports medicine clinic, as well as serving as the team physician for women's gymnastics at MSU, Holt High School and Twistars USA, all three of which are in the Lansing area. He also has a foundation for children with autism. I don't know if his role is administrative or if he actually does things with those kids.

 

[Reg5BoyGymnastMom]

Was he still treating kids at Gedderts after they got these reports on him (sounds like its been almost a year since the USAG first heard)? I would think the USAG easily could have done something to keep him from treating their member gymnasts at one of their member clubs.

He is, so far as I know, still working at Twistars *now.* He comes into the gym on Tuesday nights, routinely, to see any kids who are experiencing problems. John Geddart's only comment on the situation, that I have seen, is a completely supportive statement. This is what i would expect from Geddart, having dealt with him over the past few years as my kid has been on the team at Twistars. I am very uncomfortable with Geddart, whose behavior is consistently ego-driven and unprofessional, and who cannot accept any questioning of how he does things. We have kept my child at the gym only because kiddo has no direct interactions with JG. I'm going to be very interested to see how this situation with Nassar plays out at the gym.

 

[cftmoonlight]

He is, so far as I know, still working at Twistars *now.* He comes into the gym on Tuesday nights, routinely, to see any kids who are experiencing problems. John Geddart's only comment on the situation, that I have seen, is a completely supportive statement. This is what i would expect from Geddart, having dealt with him over the past few years as my kid has been on the team at Twistars. I am very uncomfortable with Geddart, whose behavior is consistently ego-driven and unprofessional, and who cannot accept any questioning of how he does things. We have kept my child at the gym only because kiddo has no direct interactions with JG. I'm going to be very interested to see how this situation with Nassar plays out at the gym.

Me too. One of my athletes was supposed to have an appointment with him a few weeks ago. He was not there, but she had seen him two or three times in the last 6 months at his office.

 

[bogwoppit]

He is, so far as I know, still working at Twistars *now.* He comes into the gym on Tuesday nights, routinely, to see any kids who are experiencing problems. John Geddart's only comment on the situation, that I have seen, is a completely supportive statement. This is what i would expect from Geddart, having dealt with him over the past few years as my kid has been on the team at Twistars. I am very uncomfortable with Geddart, whose behavior is consistently ego-driven and unprofessional, and who cannot accept any questioning of how he does things. We have kept my child at the gym only because kiddo has no direct interactions with JG. I'm going to be very interested to see how this situation with Nassar plays out at the gym.

Geddert is keeping an accused predator in his gym. Even "if", and I mean that very loosely, Nassar is innocent Geddert should not have him in the gym until the cases are completed.

This stuff is why other countries have laws that protect children first and adults second.

 

[Gymmommy71]

So maybe the USAG HAS warned gedderts and they are just choosing to stand by Nassar. That would be really really hard to fathom that anyone wouldn't err on the side of caution in this type of situation where children are involved.

I still don't think the USAG is powerless in that situation, and if they really wanted to make Geddarts keep Nassar out, they could.

 

[Reg5BoyGymnastMom]

Geddert is keeping an accused predator in his gym. Even "if", and I mean that very loosely, Nassar is innocent Geddert should not have him in the gym until the cases are completed.

This stuff is why other countries have laws that protect children first and adults second.

I should be careful to confirm that Nassar is still working at Twistars. Last I knew, he was, and I haven't heard different, but I should be careful not to make assumptions.

 

[sewgood]

He is, so far as I know, still working at Twistars *now.* He comes into the gym on Tuesday nights, routinely, to see any kids who are experiencing problems. John Geddart's only comment on the situation, that I have seen, is a completely supportive statement. This is what i would expect from Geddart, having dealt with him over the past few years as my kid has been on the team at Twistars. I am very uncomfortable with Geddart, whose behavior is consistently ego-driven and unprofessional, and who cannot accept any questioning of how he does things. We have kept my child at the gym only because kiddo has no direct interactions with JG. I'm going to be very interested to see how this situation with Nassar plays out at the gym.

I met JG *one* time and that was pretty much my first impression as well. I try to reserve judgment until I get to know someone, but yeah. Interesting that someone who has had closer interactions with him feels the same way.

 

[sewgood]

Geddert is keeping an accused predator in his gym. Even "if", and I mean that very loosely, Nassar is innocent Geddert should not have him in the gym until the cases are completed.

So maybe the USAG HAS warned gedderts and they are just choosing to stand by Nassar. That would be really really hard to fathom that anyone wouldn't err on the side of caution in this type of situation where children are involved.

I still don't think the USAG is powerless in that situation, and if they really wanted to make Geddarts keep Nassar out, they could.

I completely agree with both of you.

 

[GymDad9.9]

He is, so far as I know, still working at Twistars *now.* He comes into the gym on Tuesday nights, routinely, to see any kids who are experiencing problems. John Geddart's only comment on the situation, that I have seen, is a completely supportive statement. This is what i would expect from Geddart, having dealt with him over the past few years as my kid has been on the team at Twistars. I am very uncomfortable with Geddart, whose behavior is consistently ego-driven and unprofessional, and who cannot accept any questioning of how he does things. We have kept my child at the gym only because kiddo has no direct interactions with JG. I'm going to be very interested to see how this situation with Nassar plays out at the gym.

If the local media covered this issue that Nassar was still working at Geddert's gym in light of what has surfaced, which they should because it now affects the local community, you might see a shift in attitudes.

 

[BachFlyer]

If the local media covered this issue that Nassar was still working at Geddert's gym in light of what has surfaced, which they should because it now affects the local community, you might see a shift in attitudes.

Good point. I know local news briefly covered the story, but of course there wasn't any real journalism involved. Reg5Boy, maybe (if you confirm he has been in the gym treating athletes), an anonymous tip might be in order?

 

[rjb123]

I have been upset by this for the past two days. It is appalling IMO that this occurred. He is a physician!! Talk about the ultimate betrayal of trust. I do have some questions though- I understand that the girls go to these camps starting at a young age without parents- are there chaperones in the "dorms"? I am shocked that there was so little supervision over a minor child that this was able to occur in her room at camp! I also question why USAG didn't instantly report him to the medical board in the state of Michigan? He has a license and is caring for vulnerable populations- why didn't this happen?