Hall of Fame Pitcher Mariano Riveria Named in Civil Lawsuit, Accused of Covering Up Sexual Abuse

According to a report from The New York Times, Mariano Riveria—the former pitcher for the New York Yankees—has been named in a civil lawsuit that has been filed in Florida. Mr. Riviera and his wife are accused of helping to cover up sexual abuse. They vehemently deny any wrongdoing. Here, our Miami sexual abuse attorney for victims provides a more comprehensive overview of the case.

An Overview of the Allegations: Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Mariano Riveria and His Wife 

Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara Rivera are embroiled in a civil lawsuit filed against their church—the Refuge of Hope. The religious institution is located in New Rochelle, Florida. Clara Rivera serves as a pastor at the facility. The civil lawsuit alleges that the Riveras failed to take adequate action to prevent the sexual abuse of a minor by another minor during a church-related summer camp and, subsequently, at a barbecue at their home. The plaintiffs accuse the Riveras of isolating and intimidating the victim to keep her silent. The civil lawsuit contends that the Riveras had several opportunities to take action to address the abuse and protect the (alleged) victim. For their part, Mariano Rivera and Clara Rivera have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

 A Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuit May Be Brought Against Negligent Third Parties 

There are no allegations that Mariano Riveria committed any form of sexual misconduct. However, he and his wife are accused of failing to protect the victims and taking action to cover up the sexual misconduct. Of course, they deny those allegations as well. Still, civil sexual assault claims in Florida can be brought against both the perpetrator of the act and any third parties whose negligence allowed the misconduct to occur and/or persist.

Some of the most common third party defendants cited in civil sexual assault claim in Florida include schools, businesses, or churches. Liability is generally based on negligence. To hold a third party liable for sexual misconduct of another, the victim typically must prove that the defendant  failed in their duty to provide a safe environment or proper supervision. In some cases, a defendant may also bear liability on the grounds of negligent security.

Compensation for Victims: Through a civil sexual abuse claim in Florida, victims have the right to seek compensation for both economic losses and non-economic losses. Along with other damages, compensation may be sought for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

 We Fight for the Rights of Sexual Assault Victims in South Florida

At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our Florida civil sexual abuse attorneys put victims and their families first. If you were the victim of sexual abuse in Florida, we can help you navigate the civil claims process. Contact us today for a free, fully confidential case review. With offices in Miami and West Palm Beach, our firm fights for the rights of victims throughout the region.

Source:

nytimes.com/2025/01/22/nyregion/mariano-rivera-child-sex-abuse.html