Former gymnastics coach Michael Cardamone is still awaiting retrial on sexual abuse charges but his employer's insurance company agreed to settle the civil cases filed by the families of 13 former students who allege he molested them (Tribune). Cardamone's mother, Linda Lynch, also named as a defendant continues to claim her son is innocent.
Apparently Cardamone was charged in 2002 with sexually abusing 14 girls who trained at the gym where he worked - the American Institute of Gymnastics - which also happens to be owned by his mother.
In 2005, he was convicted of abusing seven of the girls and sentenced to 20 years in prison. But the Illinois Appellate Court ruled the trial judge made several evidentiary errors and overturned the sentence. It has now been sent back to a lower court for retrial.
The battery suits have been settled, though.
- Your obligation to report suspected child abuse (PDF, Illinois State Bar Association)
- Illinois Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws (FindLaw)
- Illinois Sex Offender Information (Illinois State Police)
- Chicago Injury Attorneys (FindLaw)
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