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Varsity Spirit Sexual Abuse Lawsuits: What Survivors Need to Know
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while participating in cheerleading, gymnastics, or a Varsity Spirit-affiliated program, you may have legal options. SurvivorsRights.com may connect you with an attorney who handles youth sports sexual abuse cases.
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Varsity Spirit Lawsuit and Youth Sports Abuse Updates
October 19, 2026
Former Gymnastics Coach Sentenced to 90 Years as SafeSport Oversight Faces Scrutiny
There hasn’t been much movement on the Varsity Spirit litigation front lately, but an all-too-familiar story for survivors has surfaced in the broader youth sports world.
Former youth gymnastics coach Sean Gardner was sentenced to 90 years in federal prison after admitting he secretly recorded young female athletes in a Mississippi gym bathroom. The case also has broader relevance to athlete-safety systems discussed in competitive cheerleading litigation: civil lawsuits allege USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport received warnings about Gardner before he was ultimately removed from the sport. Gardner later coached at Chow Gymnastics & Dance Institute in Iowa, and former athletes have accused him of additional abuse there. The case is separate from the Varsity Spirit litigation, but it raises similar questions about how youth-sports organizations respond to warning signs, complaints and coaches who move between programs. [Read more about this story.]
March 25, 2026
Varsity Spirit Founder, Cheerleading Mogul, Jeff Webb, Dies After Pickleball Accident
Cheerleading entrepreneur Jeff Webb, who built Varsity Spirit into a multi-billion dollar force in competitive cheerleading, died March 19 at age 76 after complications from a head injury sustained during a pickleball accident. Webb played a central role in transforming cheerleading from a sideline activity into a global industry through apparel, competitions, and training programs. Varsity later generated billions in annual revenue and was acquired for $1.5 billion before Webb exited in 2020. In recent years, the company and related organizations have faced multiple lawsuits, including antitrust claims and allegations tied to sexual abuse within the cheerleading ecosystem. Webb remained active in promoting the sport globally and helped secure provisional Olympic recognition for cheerleading in 2016. [Source: Inc. (opens in a new tab)]
November 4, 2025
All Star Cheer Gym Files Bankruptcy One Day Before Sexual Abuse Trial
Cheer Athletics Plano, one of the nation’s most recognized all-star cheer gyms, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy just hours before a state-court trial was set to begin over allegations that former coach Jason “Jay” McCartney repeatedly sexually assaulted two sisters when they were minors. The filing immediately paused the trial, a move survivors’ attorneys criticized as a clear attempt to avoid accountability. The case names McCartney, multiple Cheer Athletics business entities, and the U.S. All Star Federation for alleged failure to act despite prior warnings. Cheer Athletics, which has faced other misconduct lawsuits, claims the bankruptcy is necessary after years of legal costs and says it will continue operations. Questions remain about intertwined corporate entities and whether assets were shifted to shield liability. Additional pending litigation includes a federal disability discrimination suit. Survivors’ attorneys vow to challenge the bankruptcy and continue pursuing justice. [Read more on this.]
October 7, 2025
Former Georgia Cheerleader Sues Over Systemic Grooming and Abuse in Competitive Cheer
A former metro Atlanta cheerleader filed a 122-page lawsuit alleging that former Barrow County coach Charles Moore groomed and sexually assaulted her over several years, and that gyms, school officials, and major cheer organizations, including Varsity Brands and USA Cheer, ignored clear warning signs. The complaint claims Moore was “on the radar” of top cheer bodies long before his 2024 arrests on felony child exploitation charges. Attorneys say multiple other victims have already been identified and expect many more. The suit accuses defendants of gross negligence, lax oversight of adult-minor interactions, and putting the prestige and profits of competitive cheerleading ahead of athlete safety. The case aims to expose institutional failures and force systemic reforms while seeking justice for survivors. [Read more on this.]
June 20, 2025
Varsity Spirit Launches Pro Cheer League While Fighting Nationwide Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Varsity Spirit announced a new professional cheerleading league launching in 2026, but the rollout arrives as the company faces dozens of sexual abuse lawsuits tied to coaches and gyms within its vast event network. Survivors allege Varsity and affiliated bodies like USASF enabled a culture where abusers were protected because they generated revenue. Lawsuits include federal claims under the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act and civil RICO. Although Varsity denies liability and has not issued a formal apology, lawsuits continue progressing in multiple courts after attempts to consolidate the cases were rejected by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Advocates argue the Pro Cheer League is a reputational distraction unless the company first takes real responsibility and implements stronger safeguards. Survivors’ attorneys continue to accept new claims as investigations expand. [Expanded coverage.]
June, 2023
Federal Judge Allows Abuse Lawsuits Against Varsity to Proceed
A federal judge in South Carolina ruled (opens in a new tab) that a group of twelve former youth cheerleaders could continue pursuing key claims against Varsity Brands and the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) related to sexual abuse by coaches affiliated with Rockstar Cheer. The decision rejected Varsity’s argument that it owed no legal duty of care to athletes, allowing negligence and unjust enrichment allegations — along with USASF safety-oversight claims — to move forward. Survivors’ attorneys described the ruling as a major legal milestone, opening the door for broader corporate accountability across the competitive cheer industry.
June 5, 2023
Federal Panel Declines to Create Varsity Spirit Sexual Abuse MDL
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation declined to consolidate Varsity Spirit athlete sexual abuse lawsuits into a single federal MDL. At the time, the proposed proceeding included nine lawsuits pending in six federal districts, with additional related cases also identified. The panel acknowledged that the lawsuits shared common allegations involving Varsity-affiliated gyms, coaches and athlete-safety practices, but concluded that differences involving individual gyms, coaches and the circumstances of each alleged abuse case made centralized proceedings unnecessary. As a result, the lawsuits continued in their original federal courts rather than moving toward a single coordinated bellwether process. [Read the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation’s ruling; PDF file (opens in a new tab).]
October, 2022
First Federal Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Filed After Rockstar Cheer Scandal
Following the death of Rockstar Cheer founder Scott Foster amid a federal investigation into alleged sexual abuse of minors, multiple Jane and John Doe plaintiffs filed the first civil lawsuits linking Varsity Spirit and national governing bodies (opens in a new tab) to systemic failures that enabled the misconduct. The complaints allege that known predators were allowed continued access to underage athletes, fueled by a culture that valued revenue and brand dominance over child safety.
Varsity Spirit Promotes Athlete Safety as Abuse Lawsuits Challenge Its Record
If you Google “Varsity Spirit,” the brand behind many of America’s largest cheerleading competitions and apparel programs, you’ll find plenty of promotional content: championship results, athleticwear, event schedules and corporate partnerships.
Information about the sexual abuse lawsuits involving Varsity-affiliated coaches, gyms and governing organizations is much less prominent. Varsity Spirit has also published its own athlete-protection materials and public statements responding to the allegations.
One of those statements, titled “A Letter To Our Community (opens in a new tab),”
was published by Varsity Spirit President Bill Seely in October 2022 after the first wave of federal cheerleading sexual abuse lawsuits.
“We wholeheartedly support survivors and their pursuits of justice against those individuals responsible,” Seely wrote. The letter also said Varsity would explore legal measures to defend itself against what it described as false narratives about the company.
The lawsuits presented a very different account.
Federal complaints filed in several states alleged that Varsity Spirit, Varsity Brands, former owner Bain Capital, the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF), USA Cheer, private gyms and individual coaches failed to adequately protect young athletes from sexual abuse.
Plaintiffs alleged that warning signs about some coaches were ignored or inadequately addressed, that athletes traveled to competitions with insufficient safeguards and that organizations within the competitive cheerleading system failed to enforce abuse-prevention and reporting policies.
Those allegations have not produced a single nationwide Varsity Spirit sexual abuse proceeding. A federal panel declined to create an MDL in 2023, and several of the early lawsuits have since been dismissed, settled or otherwise closed. The litigation is considerably quieter today than it was when the first cases were filed.
Varsity Spirit, meanwhile, has continued expanding its business. The company was acquired by private equity firm KKR in 2024 in a deal valued at approximately $4.75 billion and has continued developing new competitive cheer programs and events.
For survivors, the quieter litigation landscape does not necessarily mean that every potential legal claim has disappeared. Whether someone can still pursue a case depends on factors such as where the abuse occurred, when it happened, the organization involved and the applicable statute of limitations.
Some lawsuits have involved coaches or programs connected with organizations such as:
- Rockstar Cheer and affiliated gyms
- Champion Elite Legacy
- Premier Athletics
- USASF-member gyms participating in Varsity events
- Coaches credentialed through cheerleading governing organizations
This guide explains the history and current status of the Varsity Spirit sexual abuse litigation, the organizations named in lawsuits and the legal issues that may still matter to survivors.
Take the First Step
Widespread Sexual Abuse in Competitive Cheerleading
In 2020, a USA Today investigation (opens in a new tab) found that nearly 180 people with ties to cheerleading — including coaches and choreographers — had faced sexual misconduct charges involving minors. The investigation also found that 74 of those individuals were registered sex offenders.
At the time, the findings raised questions about whether cheerleading organizations were doing enough to identify and remove adults accused or convicted of misconduct.
The U.S. All Star Federation, or USASF (opens in a new tab), was founded in 2003 to establish rules, safety standards and competition requirements for All Star cheer and dance.
USA Cheer (opens in a new tab) was formed in 2007 as a national governing organization for cheerleading and has since developed athlete-protection policies, background-screening requirements and abuse-reporting procedures.
Both organizations now maintain or recognize lists of individuals who are restricted, suspended or ineligible to participate. USA Cheer also cross-references resources from USASF, USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Center for SafeSport and the National Sex Offender Registry.
The broader youth-sports landscape changed significantly after the Larry Nassar scandal and passage of the SafeSport Act in 2018. That law imposed new abuse-reporting and athlete-protection requirements on many amateur sports organizations, while cheerleading organizations also developed their own policies and training standards.
The Varsity Spirit lawsuits grew out of allegations that those safeguards were not always enough. Plaintiffs accused coaches, gyms and cheerleading organizations of failing to respond adequately to warning signs, enforce abuse-prevention policies or protect athletes from adults in positions of trust.
Why Cheerleading Safeguards Have Broken Down
Despite background-screening requirements and athlete-protection policies, cases have shown that some adults accused or convicted of misconduct were still able to remain involved in competitive cheerleading.
One example involved an Ohio cheer gym owner (opens in a new tab) who was a registered sex offender but continued working around minors despite restrictions on his participation in the sport.
The case raised questions about how effectively governing organizations identify prohibited individuals and enforce eligibility rules.
Survivor lawsuits have made similar arguments on a broader scale. Plaintiffs have alleged that complaints were not always investigated promptly, warning signs were missed and coaches were sometimes able to continue working with young athletes after concerns had been raised.
Another challenge is that cheerleading is made up of thousands of privately operated gyms, independent coaches and multiple governing organizations.
When a coach leaves one program, effective safeguards depend on complaints, disciplinary findings and eligibility restrictions being communicated across that system.
USASF and USA Cheer now maintain athlete-protection policies and ineligibility lists, but those systems still depend heavily on reporting, screening and consistent enforcement by individual gyms and organizations.
What the USA Gymnastics Scandal Changed for Youth Sports
The Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal exposed major failures in how youth sports organizations handled reports of misconduct and protected athletes. Nassar abused hundreds of girls and young women over many years while working with USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. [Read the primary federal investigation; PDF file (opens in a new tab).]
The scandal helped drive broader changes in athlete-safety rules, including the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, commonly called the SafeSport Act (opens in a new tab), which became law in 2018.
Competitive cheerleading operates differently from Olympic sports, but many of the same safeguarding issues apply: background screening, mandatory reporting, abuse-prevention training, limits on one-on-one interactions and clear procedures for investigating misconduct.
USA Cheer now requires members to follow athlete-protection policies covering sexual abuse, physical abuse, harassment, hazing and other misconduct. Its current program also recognizes restrictions imposed by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, USASF and other sports bodies.
USASF likewise says its member clubs are subject to athlete-protection standards that include standardized background checks, abuse-prevention training and policies governing adult conduct around minors.
The Varsity Spirit lawsuits alleged that, despite those safeguards, some cheerleading organizations failed to respond adequately to warning signs, enforce protection policies or prevent adults accused of misconduct from continuing to work with young athletes.
USA Gymnastics abuse survivors and advocates, including McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Jessica Howard, Kaylee Lorincz and Maggie Nichols, are pictured with U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Charles Grassley after a 2021 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the FBI’s handling of the Larry Nassar investigation. Their testimony helped intensify scrutiny of athlete-safety systems and institutional failures in youth sports. Credit: U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab).
How the Cheer Scandal Exposed Broader Safety Failures
The Netflix documentary series Cheer (opens in a new tab) introduced a national audience to the intensity, competitiveness and close-knit culture of elite cheerleading.
In 2020, cast member Jerry Harris was arrested (opens in a new tab) on federal child-exploitation charges. He later pleaded guilty to receiving child sexual abuse material and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
The criminal case was followed by civil litigation alleging that cheerleading organizations, including Varsity Spirit, the U.S. All Star Federation and USA Cheer, failed to respond adequately to warning signs about Harris and other adults working around minors.
Those lawsuits became part of the broader wave of cases accusing cheerleading organizations of weak oversight, inadequate abuse reporting and failures to protect young athletes.
Varsity Spirit’s Influence Over Competitive Cheerleading
Varsity Spirit, a Memphis-based division of Varsity Brands, has played a major role in shaping modern competitive cheerleading through camps, competitions, uniforms, media partnerships and event infrastructure.
Its influence also extends into the sport’s governance ecosystem. Varsity says USA Cheer and the U.S. All Star Federation are independent organizations, but the company has longstanding ties to both. Varsity Spirit President Bill Seely served on the founding board of USASF and helped create USA Cheer, while Varsity events continue to rely on USASF eligibility and safety requirements.
Those relationships have drawn scrutiny from critics and plaintiffs who argue that the commercial and governing sides of competitive cheerleading have historically been too closely intertwined.
Varsity has also faced separate antitrust allegations over its dominance of cheerleading competitions, camps and apparel. In 2024, Varsity Spirit and current and former private-equity owners agreed to pay $82.5 million to settle a class-action antitrust case (opens in a new tab) alleging anti-competitive practices in the cheerleading industry. The defendants denied wrongdoing.
That settlement followed a separate $43.5 million antitrust resolution (opens in a new tab) announced in 2023.
Cheerleaders at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1948. As competitive cheerleading grew into a major youth-sports industry, questions about athlete safety, oversight and accountability grew with it. Photo via Wikipedia. (opens in a new tab)
Competitive Cheer’s For-Profit Structure and Oversight Questions
Competitive cheerleading operates differently from many school-based or Olympic sports. Much of the industry is built around private gyms, paid competitions, apparel, travel and membership fees, with Varsity Spirit playing a major commercial role in that ecosystem.
That structure has raised questions about where responsibility for athlete safety begins and ends.
Varsity has pointed to organizations such as USA Cheer and the U.S. All Star Federation as important parts of the sport’s safety and eligibility framework. Plaintiffs and critics, however, have argued that the commercial and governing sides of competitive cheerleading have historically been too closely connected, making accountability difficult when abuse allegations arise.
Since the passage of the SafeSport Act in 2018, youth-sports organizations have faced greater pressure to strengthen reporting rules, background screening and abuse-prevention policies. USA Cheer and USASF have both adopted athlete-protection measures, but lawsuits involving competitive cheerleading have alleged that those safeguards were not always enforced consistently.
The comparison to USA Gymnastics is not exact, but the underlying concern is similar: when multiple organizations share responsibility for athlete safety, gaps in oversight can leave young athletes vulnerable.
The Varsity Spirit lawsuits have tested whether organizations that helped shape the competitive cheerleading system can also be held responsible when plaintiffs allege that warning signs were missed or abuse-prevention policies failed.
Reporting Sexual Abuse in Competitive Cheerleading
USA Cheer and the U.S. All Star Federation both have formal systems for reporting suspected abuse and misconduct.
USA Cheer says any person — not just a member — may report suspected violations of its Athlete Protection Code. Its current policy also requires adult covered individuals who reasonably suspect child abuse to report it immediately to law enforcement and to USA Cheer.
USASF likewise requires adult members to report suspected child abuse immediately. Its reporting process directs people to contact law enforcement or child welfare authorities first and then submit a report to USASF.
Both organizations also maintain public lists of individuals who are restricted, suspended or ineligible to participate. USA Cheer’s athlete-protection page additionally points users to USASF, USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Center for SafeSport and the National Sex Offender Registry when checking an adult’s status.
The challenge is not simply whether policies exist. Lawsuits and past investigations have raised questions about whether complaints were communicated quickly enough, whether restrictions followed coaches across gyms and organizations, and whether individual programs consistently enforced eligibility and reporting rules.
Cheerleading is a sport made up of thousands of private gyms, coaches and event organizations. A reporting system is only as effective as the people and institutions responsible for using it, acting on it and sharing information when a coach moves from one program to another.
Scott Foster and the Rockstar Cheer Abuse Lawsuits
In August 2022, the death of Rockstar Cheer and Dance founder Scott Foster (opens in a new tab) became a turning point in the competitive cheerleading abuse litigation.
Foster, 49, died by suicide shortly after learning he was under federal investigation over allegations that he sexually abused minors. Lawsuits later alleged that Foster abused underage athletes over a period of years, including during competition travel, at his home and at Rockstar Cheer facilities.
Civil lawsuits that followed named Foster’s estate and Rockstar Cheer along with organizations including the U.S. All Star Federation, Varsity Spirit and former Varsity owner Bain Capital.
Plaintiffs alleged those organizations failed to respond adequately to warning signs, investigate misconduct or protect young athletes.
One complaint alleged that Foster groomed a minor through Snapchat, exchanged sexually explicit images with her and engaged in sexual activity with her in multiple states. Other allegations accused him of providing alcohol or drugs to young athletes.
Foster’s wife and several coaches associated with Rockstar Cheer were later added as defendants in federal litigation. Five of those coaches had previously worked at Rockstar.
After the allegations became public, Rockstar Cheer’s South Carolina operations shut down and multiple gyms around the country ended their affiliation with the Rockstar name.
A Varsity Spirit cheerleader. Varsity Spirit has been named in sexual abuse lawsuits alleging failures in athlete protection, oversight and response to misconduct within competitive cheerleading. Photo via Wikipedia. (opens in a new tab)
The Litigation Against Varsity Spirit and Its Affiliates
After the Scott Foster allegations became public, former youth cheerleaders filed federal lawsuits not only against Foster’s estate and Rockstar Cheer, but also against Varsity entities, the U.S. All Star Federation, USA Cheer and other organizations connected to competitive cheerleading.
In June 2023, U.S. District Judge Henry M. Herlong Jr. allowed portions of several South Carolina cases to proceed against Varsity defendants. The court denied parts of Varsity’s motions to dismiss, allowing certain negligence and unjust-enrichment claims to continue.
The court also allowed some claims against USASF to move forward while dismissing others. In the lead South Carolina case, plaintiffs alleged that USASF failed to adequately enforce athlete-safety rules and supervise coaches working with young cheerleaders.
Other defendants had more success at the dismissal stage. For example, the court dismissed claims against USA Cheer in some of the South Carolina cases and granted dismissal motions filed by private-equity firms Bain Capital and Charlesbank Capital Partners.
The litigation did not develop into a nationwide MDL. A federal panel declined to consolidate the Varsity Spirit sexual abuse lawsuits in 2023, leaving cases to proceed separately in their original courts.
Since then, several of the early federal cases have been dismissed, settled (opens in a new tab) or otherwise closed, and the litigation has become considerably quieter. A preliminary settlement was reported in one Florida federal case in 2024, but the terms were not made public.
Cover page of the first amended federal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, naming Varsity Brands and affiliated entities as defendants in a sexual abuse lawsuit involving more than 100 plaintiffs.
Is There a Varsity Spirit Sexual Abuse Class Action or MDL?
No. Varsity Spirit sexual abuse claims have generally been filed as individual lawsuits rather than as a class action, and there is no federal multidistrict litigation, or MDL, coordinating the cases.
In 2023, plaintiffs asked the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate Varsity-related sexual abuse lawsuits into a single federal proceeding. At the time, the request involved nine lawsuits pending in six federal districts, with common defendants including Varsity Spirit, Bain Capital, the U.S. All Star Federation and USA Cheer.
The JPML denied the request [PDF link] (opens in a new tab) on June 5, 2023.
Although the cases shared some allegations and defendants, the panel found that the claims involved numerous different coaches, gyms, locations and circumstances.
More than 30 coaches and gyms were identified across the lawsuits, with most appearing in only one case. The panel concluded that centralized proceedings would not provide enough benefit to justify creating an MDL.
As a result, the cases remained in their original federal courts rather than moving through one coordinated proceeding. Several of the early lawsuits have since been dismissed, settled or otherwise closed.
As of the latest update to this page, there is no Varsity Spirit sexual abuse MDL and no coordinated bellwether-trial schedule.
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation declined to consolidate Varsity Spirit sexual abuse lawsuits into a single federal MDL, leaving the cases to proceed separately in their original courts.
Title IX: A Double-Edged Sword for Cheerleading Athletes
Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. Those protections can apply to cheerleaders just as they do to other students, including in cases involving sexual harassment or a school’s response to reported misconduct.
Where cheerleading becomes more complicated is in athletics compliance.
In 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a ruling (opens in a new tab) that Quinnipiac University could not count its competitive cheerleading team as a varsity sport for purposes of satisfying Title IX athletic-participation requirements. The court emphasized that competitive cheerleading was physically demanding, but found that the program at the time lacked some of the organization, standardized competition structure and postseason format expected of an established varsity sport.
The ruling did not mean that cheerleaders are excluded from Title IX protections. Instead, it addressed whether competitive cheerleading could be counted as a varsity athletic opportunity when a school measures whether it is providing equitable opportunities to male and female students.
Varsity Spirit notes (opens in a new tab) that the U.S. Department of Education evaluates whether an activity qualifies as a sport for Title IX purposes based on factors such as structure, administration, team preparation and competition.
Title IX May Influence Sexual Harassment Cases
Cheerleaders at schools and universities may still bring Title IX claims involving sexual harassment, discrimination or an institution’s response to reported misconduct.
One example involved former Northwestern University cheerleader Hayden Richardson (opens in a new tab), who sued the university in 2021 alleging sexual and racial harassment connected to the cheer program and university events. Richardson later voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice in 2024.
Title IX therefore remains one possible legal avenue for school-based cheerleaders, but its application depends on the institution, the alleged conduct and whether the program falls within a federally funded educational setting.
Infinity Allstars Royals, a Jacksonville gym, won the 2019 Cheerleading Worlds. Competitive cheerleading has long raised questions about how the sport is classified, governed and protected under athlete-safety and Title IX frameworks. Photo via Wikipedia (opens in a new tab).
Varsity’s Insurance Dispute Over Sexual Abuse Claims
As sexual abuse lawsuits were filed against Varsity Spirit and related entities, another legal fight developed over who would pay to defend and resolve those claims.
In October 2023, Varsity Brands Holding Co., LLC, Varsity Brands, LLC and Varsity Spirit, LLC sued several insurance carriers (opens in a new tab) in Delaware, arguing that the insurers had wrongfully denied coverage for sexual abuse lawsuits brought by former cheer athletes.
Varsity contended that its insurance policies required the carriers to provide a legal defense and cover certain losses associated with the claims. In early 2024, a Delaware court allowed portions of Varsity’s breach-of-contract and bad-faith claims against several insurers to proceed.
The insurance dispute is separate from the underlying sexual abuse lawsuits, but it is significant because insurance coverage can affect how litigation is defended, mediated and potentially settled.
No publicly disclosed settlement terms have been announced in the abuse-related cases. A preliminary settlement was reported in one Florida federal case in 2024, but the terms were not made public.
The underlying lawsuits have included claims alleging negligence and other failures involving athlete protection, reporting and oversight. Some cases also invoked federal and state laws, depending on the facts and jurisdiction.
Netflix’s Cheer docuseries brought national attention to elite competitive cheerleading. The sport came under even greater scrutiny after cast member Jerry Harris was arrested in 2020 on federal child-exploitation charges. Photo via Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Where the Varsity Spirit Sexual Abuse Litigation Stands
The Varsity Spirit sexual abuse litigation is much quieter than it was when the first federal lawsuits were filed in 2022.
The cases were never consolidated into a federal MDL, and several of the early lawsuits have since been dismissed, settled or otherwise closed. There is currently no coordinated bellwether-trial schedule, and no major new wave of Varsity Spirit sexual abuse lawsuits has emerged.
That doesn’t necessarily mean every potential claim is over. A survivor’s legal options can depend on when and where the abuse occurred, which coach, gym or organization was involved, the evidence available and the filing deadline under applicable state law.
Explore Your Legal Options
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse involving a cheer coach, gym or organization connected with Varsity Spirit, USASF, USA Cheer or competitive cheerleading, you may still have legal options.
Completing the confidential case review form does not file a lawsuit or obligate you to move forward. SurvivorsRights.com may connect you with an attorney who can evaluate the circumstances and determine whether a civil claim may still be available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Varsity Spirit Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
What are the allegations against Varsity Spirit and its affiliates?
Lawsuits have alleged that Varsity Spirit, along with organizations such as the U.S. All Star Federation, USA Cheer, individual gyms and coaches, failed to adequately prevent or respond to sexual abuse involving young cheer athletes.
Plaintiffs have accused some organizations of missing warning signs, failing to enforce athlete-protection policies and allowing adults accused of misconduct to continue working around minors. The allegations and defendants vary from case to case.
Can I still file a lawsuit if the abuse happened years ago?
Possibly. Filing deadlines for childhood sexual abuse claims vary by state, and some states have extended deadlines or created revival windows for older claims.
Whether a claim is still available can depend on where and when the abuse occurred, the survivor’s age at the time and the law that applies to the case.
Is there a Varsity Spirit sexual abuse class action or MDL?
No. The Varsity Spirit sexual abuse cases have generally proceeded as individual lawsuits rather than as a class action.
In June 2023, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation declined to consolidate the federal cases into a single MDL because the lawsuits involved different coaches, gyms, locations and circumstances.
As of October 2026, there is still no Varsity Spirit sexual abuse MDL and no coordinated bellwether-trial schedule. Several of the early federal cases have since been dismissed, settled or otherwise closed.
Who can be named in a Varsity Spirit sexual abuse lawsuit?
The defendants depend on the facts of the case. Lawsuits have named Varsity entities, USASF, USA Cheer, private gyms, coaches, choreographers and other organizations or individuals connected with competitive cheerleading.
Potential claims can also vary by jurisdiction and may include negligence or other theories involving supervision, reporting, athlete protection or institutional response to misconduct.
Does the fact that some Varsity Spirit cases were dismissed mean no claims remain?
No. The dismissal or closure of one lawsuit does not automatically determine the outcome of a different survivor’s claim.
Legal options can depend on the alleged perpetrator, the gym or organization involved, the evidence available, applicable filing deadlines and the law in the state where the abuse occurred.
What should I do if I was sexually abused by a cheer coach or someone connected with a Varsity-affiliated program?
You can request a confidential case review to learn whether you may still have legal options.
Completing the form does not file a lawsuit or obligate you to move forward. SurvivorsRights.com may connect you with a partner attorney who can review the circumstances, explain any filing deadlines and discuss whether a civil claim may be available.
How much does it cost to speak with an attorney about a Varsity Spirit sexual abuse claim?
The attorneys SurvivorsRights.com works with offer free consultations and typically handle qualifying cases on a contingency-fee basis.
That generally means there are no upfront attorney fees. If a case is accepted, the law firm will explain its fee arrangement and any case-related costs before representation begins.