**Mariano Rivera Added as Defendant in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit**
**Meta Description:** MLB legend Mariano Rivera and his wife face allegations in a sexual abuse lawsuit linked to their church.
**URL Slug:** mariano-rivera-sexual-abuse-lawsuit
**Mariano Rivera Added as Defendant in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit**
Mariano Rivera, the legendary former New York Yankees pitcher, has been named as a defendant in a sexual abuse lawsuit alongside his wife, Clara Rivera. The amended complaint was filed by an unnamed girl and her mother in Westchester County Court on April 25, following an initial lawsuit lodged in January.
The original suit claimed that the young girl was subjected to abuse by an older individual during events associated with the church co-founded by the Riveras, known as Refuge of Hope, located in Westchester County, New York. Clara Rivera is identified as a senior pastor at the church.
In the initial filing, the Riveras were not included as defendants; instead, the church and Brook View Rye, LLC, which is linked to the Riveras’ former residence sold in 2022, were named. The lawsuit alleges that the Riveras failed to take adequate measures to protect the girl, referred to as Jane Doe in the complaint, from abuse that reportedly occurred during a barbecue in the summer of 2018 at a property owned by the Riveras.
The amended lawsuit maintains the same allegations, asserting that the Riveras ignored the girl’s claims of sexual abuse and attempted to isolate and intimidate her to keep her silent about the incident. The complaint states, “Rather than take sufficient action to end the sexual abuse of JANE A DOE, the Riveras each separately isolated and intimidated JANE A DOE to remain silent about her abuse to avoid causing trouble for REFUGIO and the Ignite Life Summer Internship.”
Joseph A. Ruta, the attorney representing the Riveras, has publicly stated that the allegations against his clients are “completely false.” The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial along with compensatory and punitive damages.
Mariano Rivera, 55, is a celebrated figure in baseball, having won five World Series championships and been selected as an MLB All-Star 13 times. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
**FAQ**
**Q: What are the allegations against Mariano Rivera and his wife?**
A: They are accused of failing to protect a young girl from sexual abuse during events linked to their church and allegedly intimidating her to remain silent about the abuse.
