Cheer Athletics–Plano Files for Bankruptcy Amid Sexual Assault Lawsuit
One of the most well-known gyms in competitive cheerleading has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This occurred just one day before a civil trial involving sexual assault allegations was scheduled to start.
Background of the Lawsuit
In 2021, Hannah Gerlacher and her twin sister Jessica, both national-level competitive cheerleaders with a significant social media presence, filed a civil lawsuit. They accused a former coach of sexually abusing them and claimed that Cheer Athletics and the U.S. All Star Federation failed to protect them.
"We decided to come forward, so no other child would experience what we went through," said plaintiff Hannah Gerlacher in 2021.
Legal Proceedings and Reactions
The trial was set to begin on Monday, November 3, but was halted the day before the scheduled start.
"They put themselves out there in this case. They didn't really want to have to do that, but they did that because they really do want to be an example and to make a sport that they love safer," said plaintiff’s attorney Michelle Simpson Tuegel.
"I think they're trying to avoid accountability, especially with the timing," added Simpson Tuegel regarding the bankruptcy filing.
Cheer Athletics–Plano officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection just prior to the trial date.
Author’s Summary: Cheer Athletics–Plano’s bankruptcy filing, timed just before a major sexual assault trial, highlights ongoing challenges in athlete safety and accountability within competitive cheerleading.