ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, September 2, 1996 TAG: 9609030087
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH
SOURCE: Associated Press
Outraged by what they say was emotional abuse by coaches, the mothers of three girls are suing a gymnastic school.
The three have accused coaches at Gymstrada Gymnastic School of emotionally abusing young girls by forcing them to perform while hurt, calling them belittling names and using demeaning punishments.
The lawsuit was filed last month in Virginia Beach Circuit Court. Each mother seeks $200,000 in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages.
The mothers - Nancy Moore of Virginia Beach, mother of Bethany, 12; Regina Petrin of Poquoson, mother of Desire', 11; and Cherri Davis of Chesapeake, mother of Andrea, 13 - said their lawsuit is not about money.
``It's just abuse, clear-cut,'' said Davis. ``The mental and emotional games that they played with them, it's all abuse and it needs to be stopped.''
The school's owner and coaches say the girls were trained hard but were never physically or emotionally abused.
``We have lots of happy parents and lots of happy kids,'' said coach Deena Baker-Walker.
``I just think there's a lot of pettiness in this,'' said gym owner Jeb Tolley. ``These people could have quit anytime they wanted. ... I just feel like it's a very needless lawsuit. There's just nothing to it.''
Gymstrada's attorney, Allen W. Beasley, said he probably will file a counterclaim against the mothers for defamation and interfering with the gym's business.
The mothers' lawsuit contends that the girls were called names during training, including ``retard,'' ``worthless,'' ``sorry excuse for a gymnast,'' ``loser,'' ``pathetic'' and ``anorexic.''
LENGTH: Short : 42 linesby CNB