Attorney rips USA Gymnastics amid lawsuit over alleged failure to protect athletes from sexual abuse

Attorney John Manly, who helped secure a $380 million settlement for U.S. women's gymnasts like Simone Biles in the Larry Nassar scandal, compares USA Gymnastics' handling of that situation to its handling of trans athletes in the women's category.

USA Gymnastics is facing another lawsuit for allegedly failing to protect female athletes from sexual abuse. 

The latest lawsuit alleges USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport were informed about a coach, Sean Gardner, involved in "inappropriate and abusive behaviors" but failed to properly investigate. 

John Manly, the attorney representing the plaintiffs in the case, previously represented stars including Simone Biles in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse lawsuit against USA Gymnastics, and he called the organization's negligence "despicable" in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

"USA Gymnastics was aware … in 2017 that Gardner was a serious and present danger to children. USAG said nothing and permitted a predator to prey upon children in Iowa without warning to parents. Their conduct is shocking and despicable," Manly said. 

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Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Academy and former coach Sean Gardner (AP Photo/Scott McFetridge; Polk County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

"As litigation is ongoing, we cannot offer comment," a USA Gymnastics spokesperson told Fox News Digital in response.

The lawsuits allege the defendants were negligent in how they responded to reports of Gardner’s misconduct, which included hugging and kissing girls and engaging in other grooming behaviors while coaching at a Mississippi gym.

The parents of a gymnast filed reports with USA Gymnastics and SafeSport in December 2017, alleging Gardner required girls to