Two more sexual abuse lawsuits filed against cheer coach, Cheer Athletics in North Texas
Two more sexual abuse lawsuits were filed Thursday in Dallas County against Cheer Athletics and Coach Jason McCartney, accusing the coach of abusing two children at a Garland facility and other Cheer Athletics gyms.
The lawsuits also allege that Cheer Athletics negligently failed to supervise and train its coaches, and failed to protect athletes in their care.
In July, twin cheerleading stars who have more than 65,000 fans on social media filed a lawsuit alleging they were sexually abused by McCartney at Cheer Athletics gyms in Frisco and Plano, according to a lawsuit.
The July lawsuit filed by the parents of Hannah and Jessica Gerlacher was filed in Travis County, where McCartney lives and co-owns a Cheer Athletics facility in Austin. The coach has denied the allegations through a statement from Cheer Athletics.
“Cheer Athletics’ failure to protect minors from sexual predators is extensive and well-documented, and Jason McCartney’s position as a coach and co-owner of its Austin gym put countless minor athletes at risk,” said attorney Michelle Simpson Tuegel of Dallas, who represents both Jane Does who are plaintiffs in the new lawsuits and the Gerlachers, in a Thursday news release. “Nothing can take away the damage that has been done, but we hope to get our clients some measure of justice and hold those responsible fully accountable so that this does not happen again.”
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Officials of Cheer Athletics said in July they acted quickly to determine that McCartney’s interactions with the twins were limited to team practices and optional tumbling lessons, during which time the girls would have always been in plain view of dozens — if not hundreds — of athletes, coaches and parents, according to the statement.
“In this instance, the Gerlachers never made Cheer Athletics aware of their allegations against Mr. McCartney during their years as athletes or in the nearly six years since they left the program,” said Jody Melton of Cheer Athletics in the released statement.
Officials at Cheer Athletics could not immediately be reached Thursday for comment on the new lawsuits.
The two lawsuits noted that the girls were juveniles at the time of the alleged sexual abuse and they had been fearful of alerting officials.
The first of the lawsuits announced Thursday involves a former athlete at Cheer Athletics’ Garland gym. The plaintiff identified as Jane Doe 1 trained with McCartney, competing on several of his teams and taking private lessons.
Jane Doe 1 alleges that when she was 12, McCartney unnecessarily touched her breasts, buttocks and genital area during her training.
In the lawsuit, Jane Doe 1 said she had trained at Cheer Athletics from fifth grade until high school.
The second lawsuit was filed on behalf of Jane Doe 2, who practiced cheer at Cheer Athletics’ Garland gym during high school. While she was a juvenile, McCartney allegedly inappropriately touched her buttocks, breasts, and inner thigh, calling her his “baby girl,” the suit says.
Jane Doe 2, who now works at a hospital in North Texas, said in the lawsuit that she continues to have flashbacks of the sexual abuse
The two plaintiffs said they came forward with their lawsuits after learning about the lawsuit filed by the twins.
This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 10:24 AM.
