HOUSTON – A Texas woman referred to as “Jane Doe No. 1″ in a lawsuit released last week has sued Houston Christian University and former associate head track coach and recruiting coordinator Sesar Figueroa for more than $5 million after she claims she was groomed for years in a “trap” to have intercourse with the coach.
Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee has launched this assertion in regards to the lawsuit on Monday: “We have filed what will be the first of several cases alleging sexual misconduct, assault and undue influence. This coach used his position to take advantage of his athletes and the school must now be held accountable for his conduct. If you have been a victim or have information, please contact us immediately.”
Houston Christian University has denied any wrongdoing because the lawsuit is turning into a headline, releasing this assertion in regards to the lawsuit: “The university has received the lawsuit filed Dec. 30, 2022. We are troubled by any and all allegations of misconduct between university employees and students. We take all reports of sexual misconduct seriously and have dedicated significant time and resources to ensuring the safety of students on our campus and under our care. When the university was made aware of allegations of misconduct related to this lawsuit, we took appropriate action to respond to these allegations by contacting and cooperating with law enforcement and terminating an assistant track coach. In the situations identified in the lawsuit filed, the university acted lawfully and in good faith, and we expect a court to agree.”
The lawsuit alleges that “Figueroa — already married to a former HCU student — was “particularly fond of young girls.” The lawsuit reads, “He preyed upon (the athletes) when they were most vulnerable. Some had difficult childhoods and looked to sports as a way up. He took advantage of that, and of them.“
The lawsuit states that HCU continues to tout Figueroa’s 27 individual conference champions, 19 silver medalists and 24 bronze medal finishes” on its web site. The college, the lawsuit claims, was “well aware” of Figueroa’s lack of boundaries and “fondness for particular female (and only female) athletes.”
“More than one complaint had been made about Figueroa and his activities. Rather than addressing his conduct, HCU instead turned a blind eye and allowed Figueroa to use his influential position as coach to further his scheme,” the lawsuit reads. “Even after a criminal complaint and formal report was made involving another female athlete, HCU failed to properly investigate itself, and failed to identify what can only be described as a systemic lack of oversight and willingness to accept egregious conduct without consequences or accountability. Instead of addressing a grave problem, HCU was only interested in protecting its public image and shielding itself from legal liability. Plaintiff Jane Doe No. 1 attempted to resolve this matter without bringing a lawsuit. That effort failed. She now brings this case seeking the maximum amount of both compensatory and punitive damages allowed by law. She seeks more than five million in total damages.”
The lawsuit additional alleges the college didn’t do something about Figueroa’s preferential therapy of the feminine athletes.
Among the alleged particulars revealed in courtroom paperwork, Jane Doe No. 1 claims Figueroa traded jobs at a pizza place, an area personal highschool and paid graduate assistant jobs, in addition to positions in monitor meets in change for intercourse while bodily and mentally assaulting and degrading her each on and off HCU’s campus and at HCU-sponsored occasions. She claims the abuse began as further consideration and small items and escalated to alcohol after monitor occasions after which personal massages, sexual textual content messages and personal conferences that, in response to the lawsuit, have been “attempts to get close and ultimately have sex.”
“Through his unwavering efforts he was ultimately able to have sex with (her) multiple times. Every single one of these times were only after he plied her with alcohol, and had offered her promises of meet positions, or other favors,” the lawsuit reads.
Jane Doe No. 1 claims as soon as she relented and had oral intercourse and intercourse with Figueroa she tried to keep away from him or inform him no, however he would refuse to take “no” for a solution and the intercourse would flip aggressive. The lawsuit claims Figueroa wouldn’t use safety and would drive her to take the Plan B drug to stop being pregnant.
“(Jane Doe No. 1) is now extremely humiliated and embarrassed after being preyed on, groomed, brainwashed and taken advantage of,” the lawsuit claims. “Figueroa’s conduct has permanently scarred (her). The things he did to her are unspeakable.”
As for the college, the lawsuit says the college didn’t present “reasonable care,” concluding, “It was not until another student athlete filed a criminal complaint, that (HCU) conducted an investigation resulting in the silent termination of Defendant Figueroa — who, up until recently, remained listed as faculty on HCU’s website. As a result of Defendant HCU’s failings and Figueroa’s intentional conduct, (Jane Doe No. 1) has suffered compensatory damages in the form of lost career opportunities. She has also suffered severe mental and emotional anguish as a result of the conduct described herein.”
The lawsuit alleges assault, indecent assault and harassment on Figueroa’s half and that, amongst many different issues, the college failed the scholar by failing to stop Figueroa from assaulting and harassing her, failing to warn her about Figueroa’s previous conduct with different scholar athletes, failing to correctly supervise and management (him), failing to create or implement insurance policies to stop misconduct” and “fail(ng) to monitor Figueroa’s sexually explicit written communications with Jane Doe No. 1″ and “provid(ing) Figueroa a safe haven so that he could continue his conduct.”
Jane Doe No. 1 is asking for a jury trial on this case. This is a civil lawsuit. At this level Figueroa has not been charged with against the law. KPRC 2 tried to talk with Figueroa at an tackle listed for him in courtroom paperwork. An individual who answered the door mentioned he was not out there.
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