HOUSTON – A physician recently convicted and imprisoned for sexually assaulting numerous female gymnasts faces more legal trouble in the form of a lawsuit from a Travis County woman.
Recent Harris County District Court records indicate that Rebecca Whitehurst sued Dr. Lawrence Gerard “Larry” Nassar on Apr. 18, claiming he molested her when she was a teenager.
The 25-page suit says Whitehurst, a member of USA Gymnastics, sought treatment from Nassar on the recommendation of her coaches at Cypress Academy sometime in 1996, when the plaintiff was approximately 15 years old.
The former elite minor gymnast, who began her training in 1993, asserts the defendant doctor touched her inappropriately, as well as penetrated her private parts in an unsanitary manner and without her or her parents’ consent.
“(Whitehurst) believes the conduct of Nassar was sexual assault, abuse, and molestation, and for Nassar’s pleasure and self-gratification,” court documents state.
Nassar was implicated in the USAG sex abuse scandal, in which he was accused of assaulting nearly 300 girls and young women since 1992. Among his most notable victims was three-time Olympic gold medal winner Aly Raisman.
The convicted serial child molester is currently serving more than 100 years in prison.
Joining Nassar as co-defendants in Whitehurst’s suit are USAG, the International Federation of Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and Cypress Academy, Inc., doing business as Cypress Academy.
Consequently, Whitehurst seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Muhammed S. Aziz of the law firm Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz in Houston serves as the plaintiff’s lead counsel.
Harris County 157th District Court Case No. 2018-26205