Jamie Dantzcher Affidavit to Fight the Gag Order

Case 1:17-cv-00305-JTN-ESC ECF No. 1-8 filed 04/04/17 PageID.112 Page 1 of 10

Denhollander, et al. v. Aquilina, et al. Case No. forthcoming

EXHIBIT 8

TO PLAINTIFF’S BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT


` STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO

) ) ss )

AFFIDAVIT OF JAMIE DANTZSCHER

Affiant, Jamie Dantzscher, being duly sworn, deposes, and states: 1.

My name is Jamie Dantzscher.

2.

I am at least 18 years old and of sound mind.

3.

I have lived California most of my life, and currently reside there. I have only visited Michigan on one or two occasions, to compete in Gymnastics. I have not made a police report involving any crime to any Michigan law enforcement agency.

4.

I am presently 34 years old. When I was a little girl, I became involved in elite gymnastics. Thanks to the sacrifices of my parents and 6 brothers and sisters, God given talent, and hard work, I advanced quickly in artistic gymnastics. I made the United States Junior National Team at the age of 12, then advanced to The United States Senior National Team, and The United States Olympic Team. I competed in the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. I won a bronze medal for my country in those games. I won many other competitions and medals in my elite gymnastics career. Elite gymnastics in the United States is governed by its National Governing Body, USA Gymnastics.

Page 1 of 9 Initialed: ______


5.

Following my retirement from elite gymnastics, I went on to a successful college Division 1 gymnastics career at UCLA. During my college career, I won seven different NCAA national championships in Gymnastics. I was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. In addition to having a successful athletic career at UCLA, I was able to obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology.

6.

Since my gymnastics career has completed, I have tried to remain active in the sport. I have coached, provided commentary and tried to follow the sport.

7.

In September of 2016, my attorneys filed a lawsuit on my behalf, alleging sexual abuse by Dr. Nassar under the guise of medical treatment. It names various defendants, including USA Gymnastics, its former Presidents and Larry Nassar. That case is pending in California.

8.

In order to understand how this abuse took place, it's important to understand the toxic environment created by USA Gymnastics. Once I made the Junior National Team, I was subjected to almost daily intimidation. Screaming, belittling, body shaming, periodic denial of proper nutrition, improper and inadequate medical care, and improper care of physical injuries were common during my training. This abuse occurred in California, at international meets all over the United States and the world, at the Karolyi Ranch (aka US National Team Training Center in Texas), and at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

9.

The team physician for USA Gymnastics during my entire elite career was Dr. Larry Nassar, a physician at Michigan State University, and the Official women’s team doctor for USAG and the Olympic team. He would travel with the team and treat all gymnasts on the team throughout the United States, and during our travels to international competitions.



10.

Dr. Nassar was a witness to much of the emotional and physical abuse inflicted on me and many of my National Team teammates by coaches and trainers at the Karolyi Ranch and other venues all over the U.S. and the world.

11.

Dr. Nassar "treated" me dozens, if not hundreds of times, for severe hip and back pain. His treatments included, but were not limited to, placing his ungloved hand into my vagina to get my hips to "pop" and "adjust" my back. He would keep his hand inside me for what seemed like an eternity. It hurt, but Dr. Nassar was very nice, sympathetic, and provided a sharp contrast to the overtly abusive and frightening environment overseen by USA Gymnastics, Bela and Marta Karolyi and others. I believed he was helping me obtain my dream to compete in the Olympic Games. I trusted him and liked him. Dr. Nassar would sneak food and candy to me and my teammates and provide kind words and support. He was constantly in the gyms and witnessed the abuse by Bela and Marta Karolyi, their staff, and some of the US National Team Coaches.

12.

Dr. Nassar never used any type of glove in his "treatment". There was never any lubricant. There was almost never another adult present. Most of the treatments occurred in my personal hotel rooms at competitions or in my personal cabin at the Karolyi ranch in Texas. He never spoke to my parents about this "procedure.” He never obtained written consent from anyone to touch my genitals.

13.

After my lawsuit was filed my attorneys requested all my medical records from USA Gymnastics. Despite my many years on The USA National Team, USA Gymnastics has no medical records other than my medical questionnaires, filled out by my mom. I have



also recently learned that Dr. Nassar did not have a license to practice medicine in Texas, nor to my knowledge, any of the places he treated me, including California. 14.

I began to understand only late last summer that Dr Nassar had sexually abused me and that this was not legitimate medical treatment. I have also come to learn that in 2015, he had been quietly dismissed by USA Gymnastics. He was fired because of allegations that he had sexually abused minors on our Olympic and U.S. National Gymnastics Teams, doing the same procedure on them as he had done many times on me. His firing was covered up by USA Gymnastics and he was allowed to post messages on social media that said he had “retired” to run for “school board” in Michigan.

15.

I decided to retain an attorney and seek justice, not just for myself, but to protect others. Initially, I filed as a “Jane Doe” but I did give an interview as “Jane Doe” to the Indianapolis Star when my case was filed. Almost immediately after filing, I was attacked on social media. My real name was outed on various social media sites, by Nassar supporters, who were either told, or figured out my actual identity.

16.

I am informed that USA Gymnastics’ attorneys called former boyfriends and tried to dig up dirt on me, asking very personal and detailed questions about my relationships and sex life as an adult. Many Nassar supporters blamed my parents and generally attacked my character. This upset me greatly. I had done nothing except speak the truth about what happened to me as a little girl. Their response was to blame the victim.

17.

USA Gymnastics put out an immediate statement about my lawsuit. They said they found out about Dr. Nassar’s misconduct in 2015, and had "immediately" contacted law enforcement. A few months later, I found out that was a lie. (In February 2017 USAG admitted that they failed to report for 5 weeks.) Dr. Nassar's criminal lawyers put out



statements this was all a misunderstanding, and that he was performing legitimate medical treatment. Michigan State University has denied all responsibility as well. 18.

After my lawsuit became public in the Indianapolis Star, I began to learn that I was not alone. Almost immediately, others girls and women began to come forward with stories disturbingly similar to mine. I learned through the media that there were dozens, if not hundreds of victims. According to media reports, more than 100 women have already come forward to law enforcement, and this number continues to grow whenever this story is reported by the media.

19.

Dr. Nassar was charged criminally, first for child sexual assault and then, as I understand it, for child pornography by the FBI in December, 2016. The media reported that the FBI found 37000 images and videos of children being sexually abused. It has been reported that he filmed himself abusing children in a swimming pool, using a Go-Pro Camera he wore on his head. At that point I began to consider speaking publicly about what happened to me.

20.

I believed that speaking out was my right. I believe that this abuse was allowed to happen because many adults at USA Gymnastics, at Michigan State, and in various gyms throughout the country kept Dr. Nassar's secrets. They collectively failed to speak up, and let Nassar assault children under the guise of medical treatment. I have numerous nieces and nephews. I could not look at them any longer and stay quiet. I knew, as a former Olympian, that if I spoke, people might be more likely to listen and act to protect children.

21.

The decision to speak publicly about being sexually abused was very difficult.

The

prospect of it was embarrassing, frightening, humiliating, and painful. I knew once I spoke out publicly, my family, friends, teammates and the world would all know about it. I was



especially concerned about my parents feeling responsible for what happened to me. They are not responsible. They are victims as well. 22.

I decided to first talk about my experience on 60 Minutes, along with two other National Team gymnasts abused by Nassar. That was broadcast on Feb 19 of this year. I have since appeared on several other national shows and done several newspaper interviews about my experiences and the need to protect defenseless children in the sport.

23.

Fortunately, good people with power heard my voice and the voices of other former gymnasts. Senator Dianne Feinstein and U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley introduced a bill to make all Olympic Sports, including gymnastics, subject to a new Federal mandatory reporting law. The law establishes criminal penalties for people in National Governing Bodies that have reason to know or suspect sexual abuse of a child athlete and do not report it to authorities. Now, if the type of physical, sexual and emotional abuse I and others experienced is reasonably suspected, adult coaches and staff must report.

24.

Additionally, after I went public along with other former gymnasts, many in the media and sports world called for the resignation of USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny. Mr. Penny had been involved in covering up many abuse cases including Nassar’s over many years. Even the US Olympic Committee called on him to resign or to be removed. Steve Penny submitted his resignation within a month of the 60 Minutes broadcast.

25.

I, my National Team teammate Jeanette Antolin, three time national champion rhythmic gymnast Jessica Howard and 1996 gold medalist Dominque Moceanu were asked to testify before the US Senate Judiciary Committee last week, by Senators Grassley and Feinstein. On March 28, 2017, we all testified at a two hour hearing on the bill in a packed Senate



Judiciary Hearing Room. Then we attended the press conference with Senators. During the hearing, a USOC representative actually publicly apologized to me and the other gymnasts for our abuse as athletes (something USAG refuses to do). The Senators who attended the hearing were sympathetic, kind and supportive of the Bill. It's worth noting that USA Gymnastics Chairman Paul Parilla refused an invitation to testify, and instead went to Mexico on vacation. 26.

Speaking to some of the most powerful people in the U.S. Senate about what happened to me was a healing experience. I began to hope things might actually change. Some of the Senators’ assistants told me I would likely be called to testify again in the House of Representatives when the Bill is introduced there. The hearing was broadcast live and widely covered by the National Media.

27.

I traveled back to California that night. The next morning (March 29, 2017), I woke up to learn that something terrible had happened. I learned that Michigan Judge Rosemarie Aquilina had entered a gag order preventing me, and hundreds of others of victims of Dr. Nassar’s from speaking to anyone about what happened to us. The order even prevents witnesses to his abuse from speaking to anyone about what happened. I also learned that Dr. Nassar's lawyers asked for the gag order only 4 or 5 hours after I testified to the U.S. Senate on March 28th.

28.

I'm not a lawyer and have only a very basic understanding of our legal system. However, I do not understand how a judge in Michigan can legally order me not to speak to other women about what happened to me, not to speak to my friends, not to speak to my family, not to speak to law enforcement, parents of gymnasts, not to speak to legislators, not to speak on social media, and not to speak at all about what happened to me. I'm concerned



if I violate the order, even accidentally, I could be put in jail at the request of Dr. Nassar. Your Honor this is not right. It is painful and frightening. 29.

I also learned that Judge Aquilina is a law professor at Michigan State University. I’m informed that Judge Aquilina stated at the hearing on the gag order that her daughter has just been hired as the new head of public relations for Michigan State University. Isn't that a conflict of interest? Clearly Michigan State University wants myself and the other survivors to be quiet. Surely, if someone is going to take away my right to speak about being sexually assaulted and demand accountability, I ought to to have a hearing before my right to speak is taken away. I know this is not a legal argument, but to me this seems very wrong and an abuse of my Constitutional rights. Worse, the denial of my right to speak is directed by the man who assaulted me as a little girl and those who protected him.

30.

Your Honor, the culture of secrecy at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University allowed Dr. Nassar to get away with molesting little girls for more than 20 years. This gag order draws the blinds on the cleansing rays of sunlight that exposed in this horrible episode and begin to purify USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. In my view this Order shoves all of us abused by Dr. Nassar and others back into the darkness of silence. It intimidates victims who are trying so hard to heal. It unquestionably will have the effect of frightening other women and girls into silence about their abuse. The Order only benefits Dr. Nassar, and those at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University who enabled him.

31.

Please, Your Honor, I beg you, let us speak. Let us shout from the rooftops that abuse is wrong. Let us say that we were abused and that those responsible for it need to be held accountable and the institutions that enable them must change.



Jamie Dantzcher Affidavit to Fight the Gag Order

Recommend Documents