An Effingham County family is asking for $10 million in damages from USA Gymnastics, claiming the organization failed to act on complaints of sexual misconduct by a former coach.

The petition, originally filed in 2013 and amended in April of this year, was filed on behalf of Jane Doe. In the 14-page complaint, the plaintiffs claim USA Gymnastics failed to act when allegations against William McCabe, who owned and operated a gymnastics training center in Rincon, were brought forth. McCabe is serving a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children in 2006. He is currently housed at the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institute.

The suit, filed in Effingham County State Court, charges that USA Gymnastics failed to act upon information received about McCabe, whose Savannah Metro facility was a member club. The child started practicing there at age 8 and from October to December 2005, McCabe sent her explicit emails and instant messages, according to the suit.

The suit charges that allegations against McCabe were first made in 1998, but USA Gymnastics “failed to investigate or take any action against McCabe and continued to allow him to participate in sanctioned events and was listed as a coach in good standing until his arrest in 2006.”

The amended petition further claims that the plaintiff’s mother received documents from an anonymous source which contained allegations against McCabe. She called USA Gymnastics but was told there were no complaints against McCabe. She also stated she confronted McCabe about the allegations, who said they were not true.

For more, return to www.effinghamherald.net or see the Aug. 10 edition of Herald.