A former student at Concordia University Chicago filed an updated civil lawsuit Thursday against the former head baseball coach and the school, a move that comes two months after the coach was convicted of criminal sexual assault.

The new complaint accuses the university of negligence and failing to protect its student-athletes.

Former Concordia head baseball coach Spiro Lempesis was found guilty at a December bench trial of sexually assaulting a teen who later became one of his players at the River Forest university. That player is the plaintiff in the civil case.

The one-time coach, Spiro Lempesis, was convicted of one count of criminal sexual assault of a victim between the ages of 13 and 17 and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim between the ages of 13 and 18. Lempesis was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Now lawyers for Lempesis and Concordia are bracing for battle in the civil case, which broadens the allegations and includes a gray area of conduct between the coach and player. The lawsuit by former Concordia pitcher Anthony Collaro claims Lempesis coerced him into making sex videos in exchange for favorable treatment, a dent in money he owed for baseball equipment and with promises the coach would contact major- and minor-league scouts to help him get drafted.

The suit claims Concordia failed to provide for the care and safety of Collaro, failed to properly investigate misconduct and did not follow procedures designed to protect student-athletes from predatory coaches. The lawsuit also alleges the university never should have hired Lempesis and failed to perform an adequate background check.

Collaro’s claims come as universities nationwide face increasing scrutiny and criticism for the way administrators and athletic departments handle sexual abuse claims by athletes. Concordia competes at the Division III level for athletics.

Collaro’s lawyers say the university tried to cover up the matter, afraid of the ramifications for recruiting and fundraising.

“I think there was a concerted effort to sweep this under the rug,” said Gina DeBoni, one of Collaro’s lawyers. “At the end of the day, I think this was nothing more than damage control.”

The lawsuit claims the coach coerced Collaro into sex acts on 20 to 30 occasions, many of which were videotaped, in Lempesis’ office between June 2008 and July 2009.

Collaro, 28, is suing Lempesis and Concordia for damages in Cook County Circuit Court, also alleging the former coach committed sexual battery and that Lempesis and the university were in breach of fiduciary duty. Collaro is seeking at least $50,000.

But Lempesis’ lawyer argues his client never abused Collaro, and the civil lawsuit is a ploy by the former player to collect money for consensual sexual activity.

“At no time did anything inappropriate happen when he was a minor,” said Blake Horwitz, Lempesis’ lawyer. He said Collaro fabricated part of his story for financial gain.

Horwitz also said Concordia acted appropriately, launching an internal investigation into Lempesis’ behavior and firing the coach. Lempesis was fired in September 2010.

During a brief hearing Thursday at the Daley Center before the newly updated lawsuit was filed, a lawyer for Concordia said the plaintiff “has yet to assert a claim that is viable.”

A Concordia spokesman said the school does not comment on pending litigation.

Collaro’s lawyers contend the former player suffered “severe and permanent emotional distress” as well as damage to his baseball career because of the sexual contact. The lawsuit says Lempesis used his position of trust to “manipulate and prey” on the player.

Collaro first met Lempesis in 2000 at a baseball camp when Collaro was 10 years old. Later, when Collaro was in high school, he took private pitching lessons from Lempesis, and afterward the coach would take him to eat at McDonald’s or Gene and Jude’s in River Grove. It was during that time, according to Collaro’s statement to River Forest police, that Lempesis fondled Collaro’s genitals as he had the player try on a pair of sliding shorts. After another session, according to the River Forest police report, Lempesis showered with Collaro and groped him when the two were naked.

Collaro later accepted an academic scholarship to play baseball for Lempesis at Concordia. He began college in 2007. While Collaro was a pitcher on the team in 2008 and 2009, Lempesis told him he could reduce his debt for baseball equipment if Collaro agreed to engage in sex acts on video. Lempesis had players pay him personally for gear, according to the lawsuit. Collaro told police he performed sex acts on film on multiple occasions.

Lempesis later asked Collaro to perform a sexual act, but he refused and his playing time was reduced, according to the lawsuit.

During the criminal trial, Jeffrey Hynes, vice president for student life and intercollegiate athletics and dean of students at Concordia, testified that he heard about allegations against Lempesis from an assistant coach, then spoke to Collaro. Hynes testified that Collaro told him he was compensated for sexual acts with Lempesis, and that later he fired Lempesis for the conduct.

In answers to questions from the prosecutor, Hynes agreed the situation with Lempesis could be damaging to Concordia’s reputation and the baseball program’s recruiting and fundraising. The university later launched an internal investigation, hiring former federal prosecutor Patrick Collins to look into Lempesis’ conduct with other athletes.

At sentencing in the criminal case, Lempesis asked Collaro for forgiveness “for the things that happened at Concordia. I was the head coach. It was wrong. I never should have done that or allowed that to happen.”

But Lempesis maintained his innocence on the assault charges.

“I never, ever touched him, as he says I did, as a minor,” Lempesis said, according to a court transcript. “That never happened. I am 100 percent innocent of that.”

Horwitz, in a phone interview this week, said Lempesis admits to “acting inappropriately as coach” but that he “engaged in consensual sexual relations.” Horwitz said testimony from the criminal trial supports that view.

Horwitz said Collaro couldn’t recall the name of the therapists he saw after the incidents with Lempesis, calling into question whether he really had repressed memories about sexual encounters.

During his victim impact statement at sentencing, Collaro said anxiety and depression have plagued his life because of Lempesis’ actions, but he was pleased to see his former coach held accountable for his actions.

“I never want him to be able to hurt another young boy or man again,” Collaro said. “It’s incomprehensible what he did and put me through. … Now he can see that he’s destroyed my life firsthand, but I am taking it back today. All the hurt, pain and sorrow he has caused me starts to go away today.”

• Alexander Krushelnitsky tests positive for meldonium
• Set to be stripped of mixed curling bronze, won with wife

The Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky has been formally charged with a doping offence by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. He is now likely to be stripped of his mixed curling bronze medal, won with his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova last week, and there are also growing questions about the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow 168 Russians to compete here under a neutral flag despite the country’s massive state-sponsored doping programme in Sochi.

But as Krushelnitsky was leaving the Winter Olympics on Monday morning his Olympic Athletes of Russia team-mates were insisting that he was innocent. “We were all shocked when we found out,” said Viktoria Moiseeva. “Of course we very much hope it was some kind of mistake. With us it’s not faster, higher, stronger; it’s about being more accurate. I can’t imagine what kind of drugs you could use in curling … so it’s very hard to believe.”

Krushelnitsky has told Russian officials he fears a team-mate who was not selected for the Winter Olympics spiked his drink with meldonium at a training camp before he travelled to South Korea. The drug, which was banned in 2016, led to Russian tennis player and former world No 1 Maria Sharapova being barred from competition for 15 months.

Russian curling federation president Dmitry Svishchev said Russian curlers had been tested on 22 January before flying out to South Korea and the tests were negative. “I have known these guys for many years,” he said. “Only a crazy person takes banned substances before a competition, before the Olympics. It’s a strange story. It raises a lot of questions.”

Russian Olympic delegation spokesman Konstantin Vybornov added that he would not comment on the charge until the results of Krushelnitsky’s “B” sample were announced. He also accused foreign media outlets of running “misleading” reports, but did not give further details. “I spoke to a person who previously headed the anti-doping laboratory, and he said that curlers don’t need meldonium. In his opinion, this is some kind of political act. ‘You are victims of conspiracy,’” he said. “Do I believe that? I don’t know,” Andrei Sozin, the Russian curling federation vice-president, told Komsomolskaya Pravda, a pro-Kremlin newspaper. “The federation gives its word: we don’t know how this scandal has arisen. [Doping] contradicts the federation’s principles.”

In December the Russian Olympic Committee was banned from the Winter Olympics and ordered to pay $15m in costs in after making what the IOC called an “unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport” following a massive state-sponsored doping programme that corrupted the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.

Russian athletes were only allowed to compete in Pyeongchang under a neutral flag providing they were cleared by an anti-doping panel. However the IOC had left open the possibility that they would be able to march under their own flag at Sunday’s closing ceremony. That now looks an increasingly slim prospect. The IOC said it would make its decision at an executive board meeting on Saturday.

“I hope it’s not true … for the sport of curling,” said Norwegian team skipper Thomas Ulsrud. “If it’s true I feel really sad for the Norwegian team who worked really hard and ended up in fourth place and just left for Norway and they aren’t even here.”

However the Danish skip Madeleine Dupont appeared unconvinced that performance enhancing drugs would help in a sport such as curling. “I think most people will laugh,” she said. “And say ‘what do you possibly need doping for?’”

The Court of Arbitration Anti-Doping Division confirmed Krushelnitsky’s case had been passed to them in a statement. “Further to a request from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Cas ADD has initiated a procedure involving the athlete Aleksandr Krushelnitckii (mixed curling; OAR),” it said. “No hearing date has been fixed yet and no further information will be provided at this point.”

Karmichael Hunt has let down Michael Cheika and other rugby hierarchy who provided him a silver opportunity to keep alive his football career, according to Wallabies great Phil Waugh.

Waugh has expressed sympathy for the Queensland Reds back after he was stood down by Rugby Australia over his arrest and drug possession charge.

But the 79-test flanker believes it’s unlikely Hunt will ever play for the Wallabies again after coach Cheika gave him his debut last year, given it’s the second time in three years he’s faced drug-related charges.

“The sad thing is that Rugby Australia and Cheika and the Reds really stuck by Karmichael when they probably could have thrown him out the first time, although it happened before they actually took him on board,” Waugh told Fox Sports.

READ MORE:
* Hunt ‘inconsolable’ after drugs arrest
* Hunt suspended and fined
* Hunt won’t live down drugs bust

“They picked him in squads that perhaps people questioned whether he should have been in.

“He’s had opportunities that other players haven’t had. It’s just a wasted opportunity for such a talented athlete.

“There are so many other players who would just do anything to get this opportunity. And they watch instances like this and they go, ‘why would you throw it away?’

“This is just poor behaviour and a bad choice.”

Hunt was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning, with police allegedly finding a white powder after searching the 31-year-old in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.

He was charged with two counts of drug possession and is set to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.

Rugby Australia is waiting for more detail on the allegations but agreed it was in all parties’ best interests Hunt, who was fined A$2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in 2015, be stood down from training and playing.

Waugh was concerned about Hunt’s life after sport.

“I actually really genuinely feel for the guy because his last 12 months in rugby has been superb,” Waugh said.

“It’s just a sad story because the light at the end of the tunnel’s hard to see, the second time around, particularly because he’s come so far in the game in such a short period of time.

“People are talking about the financial impact as of today, but you’ve got to look at what the financial impact is post-career.

“You already know how difficult it is for players to transition out of professional sport to life after sport, and certainly these allegations don’t help.”

Hunt, a former NRL and AFL player who joined the Reds at the end of 2014 shortly before his previous run-in with the law, has represented Australia in six tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.

 – AAP

Karmichael Hunt has let down Michael Cheika and other rugby hierarchy who provided him a silver opportunity to keep alive his football career, according to Wallabies great Phil Waugh.

Waugh has expressed sympathy for the Queensland Reds back after he was stood down by Rugby Australia over his arrest and drug possession charge.

But the 79-test flanker believes it’s unlikely Hunt will ever play for the Wallabies again after coach Cheika gave him his debut last year, given it’s the second time in three years he’s faced drug-related charges.

“The sad thing is that Rugby Australia and Cheika and the Reds really stuck by Karmichael when they probably could have thrown him out the first time, although it happened before they actually took him on board,” Waugh told Fox Sports.

READ MORE:
* Hunt ‘inconsolable’ after drugs arrest
* Hunt suspended and fined
* Hunt won’t live down drugs bust

“They picked him in squads that perhaps people questioned whether he should have been in.

“He’s had opportunities that other players haven’t had. It’s just a wasted opportunity for such a talented athlete.

“There are so many other players who would just do anything to get this opportunity. And they watch instances like this and they go, ‘why would you throw it away?’

“This is just poor behaviour and a bad choice.”

Hunt was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning, with police allegedly finding a white powder after searching the 31-year-old in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.

He was charged with two counts of drug possession and is set to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.

Rugby Australia is waiting for more detail on the allegations but agreed it was in all parties’ best interests Hunt, who was fined A$2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in 2015, be stood down from training and playing.

Waugh was concerned about Hunt’s life after sport.

“I actually really genuinely feel for the guy because his last 12 months in rugby has been superb,” Waugh said.

“It’s just a sad story because the light at the end of the tunnel’s hard to see, the second time around, particularly because he’s come so far in the game in such a short period of time.

“People are talking about the financial impact as of today, but you’ve got to look at what the financial impact is post-career.

“You already know how difficult it is for players to transition out of professional sport to life after sport, and certainly these allegations don’t help.”

Hunt, a former NRL and AFL player who joined the Reds at the end of 2014 shortly before his previous run-in with the law, has represented Australia in six tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.

 – AAP

Karmichael Hunt has let down Michael Cheika and other rugby hierarchy who provided him a silver opportunity to keep alive his rugby career, according to Wallabies great Phil Waugh.

Waugh has expressed sympathy for the Queensland Reds back after he was stood down by Rugby Australia over his arrest and drug possession charge.

But the 79-Test flanker believes it’s unlikely Hunt will ever play for the Wallabies again after coach Cheika gave him his debut last year, given it’s the second time in three years he’s faced drug-related charges.

“The sad thing is that Rugby Australia and Cheika and the Reds really stuck by Karmichael when they probably could have thrown him out the first time, although it happened before they actually took him on board,” Waugh told Fox Sports.

“They picked him in squads that perhaps people questioned whether he should have been in.

“He’s had opportunities that other players haven’t had. It’s just a wasted opportunity for such a talented athlete.

“There are so many other players who would just do anything to get this opportunity. And they watch instances like this and they go, ‘why would you throw it away?’
“This is just poor behaviour and a bad choice.”

Hunt was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning, with police allegedly finding a white powder after searching the 31-year-old in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.

He was charged with two counts of drug possession and is set to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.

Rugby Australia is waiting for more detail on the allegations but agreed it was in all parties’ best interests Hunt, who was fined $2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in 2015, be stood down from training and playing.

Waugh was concerned about Hunt’s life after sport.

“I actually really genuinely feel for the guy because his last 12 months in rugby has been superb,” Waugh said.

“It’s just a sad story because the light at the end of the tunnel’s hard to see, the second time around, particularly because he’s come so far in the game in such a short period of time.

“People are talking about the financial impact as of today, but you’ve got to look at what the financial impact is post-career.

“You already know how difficult it is for players to transition out of professional sport to life after sport, and certainly these allegations don’t help.”

Hunt, a former NRL and AFL player who joined the Reds at the end of 2014 shortly before his previous run-in with the law, has represented Australia in six Tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.

Karmichael Hunt has let down Michael Cheika and other rugby hierarchy who provided him a silver opportunity to keep alive his football career, according to Wallabies great Phil Waugh.

Waugh has expressed sympathy for the Queensland Reds back after he was stood down by Rugby Australia over his arrest and drug possession charge.

• 

  Rugby Australia has stood star Karmichael Hunt down from all playing and training activities after he was arrested and charged with drug possession.

• 

  Wallabies star Karmichael Hunt has been charged with drug possession after being arrested by police for allegedly carrying cocaine in Brisbane overnight.

1 Related

But the 79-Test flanker believes it’s unlikely Hunt will ever play for the Wallabies again after coach Cheika gave him his debut last year, given it’s the second time in three years he’s faced drug-related charges.

“The sad thing is that Rugby Australia and Cheika and the Reds really stuck by Karmichael when they probably could have thrown him out the first time, although it happened before they actually took him on board,” Waugh told Fox Sports.

“They picked him in squads that perhaps people questioned whether he should have been in.

“He’s had opportunities that other players haven’t had. It’s just a wasted opportunity for such a talented athlete.

“There are so many other players who would just do anything to get this opportunity. And they watch instances like this and they go, ‘why would you throw it away?’

“This is just poor behaviour and a bad choice.”

Hunt was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning, with police allegedly finding a white powder after searching the 31-year-old in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.

He was charged with two counts of drug possession and is set to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.

Rugby Australia is waiting for more detail on the allegations but agreed it was in all parties’ best interests Hunt, who was fined $2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in 2015, be stood down from training and playing.

Waugh was concerned about Hunt’s life after sport.

“I actually really genuinely feel for the guy because his last 12 months in rugby has been superb,” Waugh said.

“It’s just a sad story because the light at the end of the tunnel’s hard to see, the second time around, particularly because he’s come so far in the game in such a short period of time.

“People are talking about the financial impact as of today, but you’ve got to look at what the financial impact is post-career.

“You already know how difficult it is for players to transition out of professional sport to life after sport, and certainly these allegations don’t help.”

Hunt, a former NRL and AFL player who joined the Reds at the end of 2014 shortly before his previous run-in with the law, has represented Australia in six Tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.

Karmichael Hunt has let down Michael Cheika and other rugby hierarchy who provided him a silver opportunity to keep alive his football career, according to Wallabies great Phil Waugh.

Waugh has expressed sympathy for the Queensland Reds back after he was stood down by Rugby Australia over his arrest and drug possession charge.

But the 79-Test flanker believes it’s unlikely Hunt will ever play for the Wallabies again after coach Cheika gave him his debut last year, given it’s the second time in three years he’s faced drug-related charges.

“The sad thing is that Rugby Australia and Cheika and the Reds really stuck by Karmichael when they probably could have thrown him out the first time, although it happened before they actually took him on board,” Waugh told Fox Sports.

“They picked him in squads that perhaps people questioned whether he should have been in.

“He’s had opportunities that other players haven’t had. It’s just a wasted opportunity for such a talented athlete.

“There are so many other players who would just do anything to get this opportunity. And they watch instances like this and they go, ‘why would you throw it away?’

“This is just poor behaviour and a bad choice.”

Hunt was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning, with police allegedly finding a white powder after searching the 31-year-old in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.

He was charged with two counts of drug possession and is set to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.

Rugby Australia is waiting for more detail on the allegations but agreed it was in all parties’ best interests Hunt, who was fined $2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in 2015, be stood down from training and playing.

Waugh was concerned about Hunt’s life after sport.

“I actually really genuinely feel for the guy because his last 12 months in rugby has been superb,” Waugh said.

“It’s just a sad story because the light at the end of the tunnel’s hard to see, the second time around, particularly because he’s come so far in the game in such a short period of time.

“People are talking about the financial impact as of today, but you’ve got to look at what the financial impact is post-career.

“You already know how difficult it is for players to transition out of professional sport to life after sport, and certainly these allegations don’t help.”

Hunt, a former NRL and AFL player who joined the Reds at the end of 2014 shortly before his previous run-in with the law, has represented Australia in six Tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.