A federal lawsuit accuses Nike and a national athletics foundation of failing to protect a 16-year-old athlete allegedly raped at a Beaverton hotel.
The suit, filed Friday, Sept. 18, in U.S. District Court in Portland, alleges staff then pressured the teen and her family to call the attack consensual and urged them not to contact police, KGW first reported.
Nike, headquartered in Beaverton, and the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) co-hosted the Nike Elite Program over the Fourth of July weekend. The program invited 40 top high school track and field athletes to Nike's campus, covering travel and hotel stays. For athletes 16 or younger, the organizations also paid for one parent or guardian.
Parents stayed on separate hotel floors from the teen athletes, according to the lawsuit. Nike and NSAF staff served as the primary supervisors.
Allegations in the complaint
On the evening of July 5, several athletes gathered in a hotel room, the lawsuit states. After others left, the accused assailant allegedly pressured the teen for sexual contact. When she resisted, the complaint alleges, he raped her and choked her when she tried to scream.
Staff found the teen crying in a hallway afterward, the suit claims. They moved her to a staff member's room, urged her to describe the attack as consensual and required her to write a statement, according to the complaint.
About 30 minutes later, staff brought the teen's parent to the room. The accused could be heard nearby repeatedly saying he was "sorry," the lawsuit states. Staff did not let the parent read the written statement and did not disclose the assault that night, according to the complaint.
The next morning, the teen told her parent what happened. Staff again urged the family to call the attack consensual and pressed them not to contact law enforcement, the suit alleges.
The family went to a hospital and filed a report with the Beaverton Police Department, FOX 12 reported.
Prior discipline, no warning
The lawsuit alleges the accused assailant was already being expelled from the program for separate disciplinary issues at the time of the assault. Neither the teen nor her parent knew about those issues, the complaint states.
After the assault, the accused was sent home. The lawsuit alleges Nike and NSAF did not warn other athletes or their parents about the situation.
No one from Nike or NSAF contacted the family for weeks after the teen returned home, the complaint claims.
Investigation and response
A Beaverton Police Department spokesperson confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive that police are investigating. The lawsuit states criminal charges are pending against the accused assailant, though the police department has not independently confirmed charges. Neither the alleged victim nor the accused is named in court records.
George Goldberg, the family's attorney, told FOX 12: "He physically prevented her from screaming, he physically prevented her from leaving, and it's just horrible."
NSAF CEO Josh Rowe said in a statement that the organization does not agree with the account in the complaint and will respond through the legal process. Nike declined to comment.
The lawsuit seeks economic and non-economic damages, alleging Nike and NSAF breached their duty to supervise and protect minors in their care.
Resources
The Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) offers a 24-hour crisis line at 503-640-5311. SARC is located at the Family Peace Center, 1100 NE Compton Drive, Hillsboro. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) is also available around the clock at 1-800-656-4673.
