Victims Seek Settlement in Alleged Sexual Abuse Claims Against Former Red Sox Employee
GoLocalProv News Team
Victims Seek Settlement in Alleged Sexual Abuse Claims Against Former Red Sox Employee
Garabedian is known for representing sexual abuse victims in the Boston area during the Catholic priest sexual abuse scandal.
On a Zoom press call, Garabedian was joined by Charles Crawford -- who alleges he was abused by Fitzpatrick when he was 16 -- and said he is upset at the lack of response from the Red Sox.
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"We have to keep coming here having this conversation," said Crawford, of bringing forth the allegations. "It was a slap in the face that I was a kid and for them to not even respond. We were innocent victims."
"It’s a disgrace how they treated us — it took me 16 years to even tell my mom," said Crawford, of victims who have alleged abuse at the hands of Fitzpatrick.
Attorney's Action
Garabedian released the following statement on Tuesday.
"Since 2011 I have represented and do represent twenty one alleged courageous sexual abuse victims of serial pedophile Boston Red Sox equipment manager Donald James Fitzpatrick who worked as clubhouse attendants for the Boston Red Sox, in the visitors’ dugout or clubhouse for the then Kansas City Athletics (currently the Oakland Athletics), Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles or just playing in the little league. Of the 21 victims 15 are of color.
The timespan of sexual abuse was from approximately 1967 to 1991. At the time of the sexual abuse my clients were as young as approximately 12 years old, and for a few victims the sexual abuse continued into their 20s. The victims are now approximately 45 to 66 years old. All victims were sexually abused beginning when they were under the age of 18 except for one victim who was 20 years old when sexually abused. Some victims were sexually abused for years.
In 2011, the Boston Red Sox did interview seven of the twenty one victims, offered to pay for a limited amount of counseling for one victim, and then suddenly and without explanation stopped interviewing the victims. Major League Baseball and the other referenced major league teams took the position that the sexual abuse was not their problem by not addressing the claims of sexual abuse.
I have recently once again asked Major League Baseball, the Boston Red Sox and the all of the above referenced teams to validate the sexual abuse claims of these 21 victims though a monetary settlement. But, except for the Kansas City Royals which informed me that the team was not interested in resolving these claims, I have been met with complete silence."