Baseball legend Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, are facing serious allegations in a lawsuit claiming they failed to address child sexual abuse tied to their home and a summer camp associated with their church.
Filed in Westchester County Supreme Court last week, the lawsuit centers on accusations that the couple neglected their responsibility to protect a minor, referred to as Jane Doe, from sexual abuse. The victim was part of the Refuge of Hope church in New Rochelle, which the Riveras are heavily involved in.
“Our lawsuit alleges that Mariano and Clara Rivera had a duty to protect our client and missed the opportunity to save her from the harms of sexual abuse,” attorney Adam Horowitz of Horowitz Law stated.
The alleged abuse occurred in 2018 when Jane Doe participated in a summer internship at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, a program she joined on Clara Rivera’s recommendation. According to the lawsuit, an older girl at the camp, also a minor, repeatedly assaulted Doe, including incidents in the dormitory and shower areas.
Court documents state that Jane Doe’s mother raised concerns about her daughter’s safety at the camp, prompting the Riveras to visit the facility. During this visit, the lawsuit alleges, the couple “learned or should have learned” of the abuse but instead pressured the victim to remain silent, claiming it could cause trouble for the church organizations involved.
The abuse reportedly did not end there. Upon returning to New York, Jane Doe alleges she was sexually assaulted again during a barbecue hosted at the Riveras’ former residence in Rye, New York. The August 2018 event was organized for children from the Refuge of Hope church, with no parents in attendance.
The lawsuit also claims that after these incidents, Jane Doe continued attending services at the Refuge of Hope church, where no further action was taken to address the alleged abuse.
Representatives for the Riveras have not commented on the allegations at this time.
Also Read: Vista Jet Careers | Vista Jet Jobs Urgent Hiring – Apply Now 2025
