Woodward Camp Lawsuit 2022
Woodward Camp Lawsuit 2022
Woodward Camp Lawsuit 2022
S.S.
c/o Kline & Specter, PC
1525 Locust Street, 19th Floor No.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Plaintiff,
v.
Plaintiff, S.S., by and through her undersigned counsel, Kline & Specter, hereby file this
1. This Complaint arises from the inappropriate sexual contact with minor Plaintiff
while at Woodward Gymnastics Camp by then coach Defendant Nathaniel Singer, who was
placed in a position of power and authority over Plaintiff S.S. while she was a minor by co-
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Defendant Woodward Pennsylvania, LLC, f/k/a POWDR – Woodward PA, LLC (hereinafter
3. Plaintiff’s full name is not contained in this pleading to protect her privacy since
she is the victim of sexual abuse committed while she was a minor. This is done in good faith to
avoid additional embarrassment and psychological harm. Plaintiff’s identity is being made
(“Woodward PA”) is a corporation and/or business entity which at all relevant times was in the
business of operating, managing, marketing, and/or overseeing a global sports company with
multiple locations throughout the United States, Mexico and China, including a gymnastics camp
known as “Woodward Gymnastics Camp” located at 134 Sports Camp Drive, Woodward, PA
16886.
corporation and/or business entity organized under the laws of Delaware with a principal place of
business at 134 Sports Camp Drive, Woodward, PA 16886, which at all relevant times was in the
business of operating, managing, marketing, and/or overseeing a global sports company that
boasts state of the art facilities and programs to many of the world’s top action sports and
gymnastics athletes, including current and future Olympians, with multiple locations throughout
the United States, Mexico and China, including a gymnastics camp known as “Woodward
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corporation and/or business entity organized under the laws of Delaware with a principal place of
business at 134 Sports Camp Drive, Woodward, PA 16886, which at all relevant times was in the
business of operating, managing, marketing, and/or overseeing a global sports company that
boasts state of the art facilities and programs to many of the world’s top action sports and
gymnastics athletes, including current and future Olympians, with multiple locations throughout
the United States, Mexico and China, including a gymnastics camp known as “Woodward
through joint venture owned, operated, managed, marketed, and controlled a global sports
company with multiple locations throughout the United States, Mexico and China, including a
gymnastics camp known as “Woodward Gymnastics Camp” located at 134 Sports Camp Drive,
Woodward, PA 16886.
9. At all relevant times herein, Defendant Nathaniel Singer was a gymnastics coach
at Defendants’ gymnastics camp known as “Woodward Gymnastics Camp” located at 134 Sports
10. Defendant Brittany J. Shulman (nee Epps) is an adult individual residing at 237 E.
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11. At all relevant times herein, Defendant Brittany Shulman was an administrator at
the Woodward Gymnastics Camp and in charge of, among other things, the hiring, retention and
12. At all times relevant herein, the Woodward Camp Defendants were acting by and
through its officers, employees, servants, and agents including Matt Lea, Brittany Shulman,
Gregory Frew, and Pamela Velasquez in the operation of the gymnastics camp known as
“Woodward Gymnastics Camp” located at 134 Sports Camp Drive, Woodward, PA 16886, and
the hiring, admitting, assigning, retaining, and supervising of employees, agents, servants, and
13. Accordingly, the Woodward Camp Defendants are not only directly liable for its
own negligence, but also vicariously liable for the negligent acts and omissions of their
employees, servants, agents, and coaches while engaged in the operation of the Woodward
Gymnastics Camp, including Defendant Nathaniel Singer, Matt Lea, Gregory Frew, Pamela
Velasquez, and Brittany Shulman, under theories of respondeat superior, master-servant, agency,
15. The Middle District of Pennsylvania in United States District Court has subject
matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S. Code § 1332 because the parties are diverse and the
16. Venue is properly laid in the Middle District of Pennsylvania in United States
District Court, pursuant to 28 U.S. Code § 1391 as the cause of action arose in Centre County,
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18. Woodward Camp Defendants operate an elite gymnastics camp that offered an
overnight, twelve-week summer gymnastics camp located at 134 Sports Camp Drive,
instructors and coaches who were “the best in the country” who “meet our high standards,” and
19. Woodward Camp Defendants also marketed that it put “safety first” at its
gymnastics camp and recommended at least a two-week stay at their facility that offered room
and board.
Gymnastics overnight camp to include instruction and activities intermixed with dining and
Nathaniel Singer as one of the gymnastics coaches at the camp in charge of the female campers.
22. Prior to the summer of 2016, Defendant Nathaniel Singer engaged in an intimate
relationship with a minor female gymnast and Woodward Camper whom he coached.
23. During the summer of 2016, Defendant Nathaniel Singer engaged in several
violations of camp policy with regard to interactions and isolating minor female campers,
including taking them alone on golf cart rides and being alone with them in the D.J. booth.
24. These violations were known and/or should have been known to camp
administrators, including Defendant Brittany Shulman. Ms. Shulman and the other
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administrators at Woodward Camp, failed to take any action against Defendant Singer to protect
25. During the Summer of 2016, Plaintiff S.S. attended Woodward Gymnastics Camp
27. Defendant Singer, twenty-years-old, acted as the head coach of Plaintiff S.S. for
two weeks and after as a coach generally to her for the rest of her stay in the Summer of 2016.
28. Defendant Singer engaged in a pattern of grooming behavior with Plaintiff S.S.
29. While spotting the gymnasts during training exercises, Defendant Singer would
leave his hands on Plaintiff S.S.’s body longer than the other coaches.
30. Other campers also discussed that Singer was inappropriate generally and in the
31. Defendant Singer would spend time around where the Junior Counselors, all of
whom were minors, congregated. He paid special attention to the female junior counselors.
32. Defendant Singer had access to Camp golf carts and would give female Junior
Counselors rides around the campgrounds one-on-one in violation of camp rules. During the
course of the Summer of 2016, Singer was reprimanded by a supervisor for this behavior. He
33. Defendant Singer asked for Plaintiff S.S.’s Snapchat username and proceeded to
send her unsolicited photos of himself, progressing from photos of him inside a gymnasium to
34. At no time did Plaintiff S.S. ask Defendant Singer to send her photos.
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throughout the entirety of S.S.’s stay at Woodward in 2016 and until October of that year.
36. Other than the reprimand from a supervisor, no one in Woodward Camp
Administration did anything to stop Singer’s inappropriate grooming behaviors, many of which
37. On the penultimate night of Plaintiff S.S.’s stay at Woodward Gymnastics Camp,
38. Defendant Singer had inappropriate sexual contact with 17-year-old S.S. on the
39. Defendant Singer acknowledged to S.S. that he shouldn’t be doing the behavior
40. Defendant Singer pursued an intimate relationship with S.S. so openly that other
41. Despite his having engaged in multiple violations of camp policy and having
inappropriate sexual contact with a minor camper, the Woodward Camp Defendants and its
42. During the summer of 2017, the Junior Camp Director at the Woodward Camp
learned about Defendant’s inappropriate sexual contact with S.S. the prior summer. He reported
43. Defendant Singer admitted to Woodward Camp Administrators that he had sexual
contact with S.S. the prior summer when she was a minor camper.
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44. The Junior Camp Director also informed Defendant Shulman that Defendant
Singer had taken another minor camper off of the campgrounds alone, another violation of camp
45. Woodward Camp Administrators, including Defendant Shulman, failed to fire and
remove Defendant Singer from the camp upon learning of his inappropriate sexual contact with a
minor camper the prior summer and his repeated violations of camp policy in isolating and being
alone with minor campers. The administrators also failed to report Singer’s conduct with S.S. to
authorities.
46. Instead of firing Singer, Woodward continued to contract with Singer and kept
him at camp in the Summer of 2017 with access to minor children and in a position of authority
47. Prior to the summer of 2018, the Woodward Camp Defendants and its
coach and D.J. at the camp, despite knowing about his inappropriate sexual contact with minor
S.S. in the summer of 2016 and his repeated violations of camp policy.
48. Defendant Shulman participated in the rehiring of Defendant Singer for the
summer of 2018, despite knowing about his inappropriate sexual contact with minor S.S., his
49. The Junior Counselor Director who had previously reported Defendant Singer’s
sexual abuse and violations of camp policy, suggested to Defendant Shulman that Defendant
Singer’s interactions with minor campers be limited to protect them from Defendant Singer.
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50. Prior to the summer of 2019, the Woodward Camp Defendants again rehired
Defendant Singer as a gymnastics coach and D.J. at the camp, despite knowing about his
inappropriate sexual contact with minor S.S. in the Summer of 2016 and his repeated violations
of camp policy.
51. Defendant Shulman again participated in the rehiring of Defendant Singer for the
summer of 2019, despite knowing about his inappropriate sexual contact with minor S.S., his
52. In the Summer of 2019, the Junior Counselor Director who had previously
reported Defendant Singer’s sexual abuse and violations of camp policy, again informed
Woodward Camp Administrators, including Defendant Shulman and Pam Velasquez, that Singer
posed a danger to the kids at the camp. Defendant Shulman stated that she was fine with
Defendant Singer working at the camp despite his past “mistakes.” Defendant Shulman and
other Woodward Camp Administrators again failed to limit Singer’s interaction with minor
campers.
53. At least one other minor camper, S.C., age 14, was sexually assaulted by
Nathanial Singer at Woodward Camp in the summer of 2018 and 2019, which was reported to
54. Once again, Woodward Camp Defendants and Schulman failed to report the
sexual abuse to authorities and failed to take action to protect children from Defendant Singer.
55. Based upon a complaint that came from someone other than Defendants,
Nathaniel Singer was suspended for sexual misconduct by USA Gymnastics and/or the U.S.
Center for SafeSport as of July of 2020 and given a “no contact directive” as of May 27, 2021.
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56. Despite being aware of Defendant Singer’s inappropriate grooming behavior and
continued violation of camp policies, Defendant Woodward through its employees including
Defendant Shulman continued to disregard this known risk and failed to act to protect children
57. Despite being aware of the report of Nathaniel Singer’s inappropriate sexual
contact with minor S.S., the Woodward Camp Defendants and Shulman continued to disregard
this known risk and failed to act to protect children, ratifying his abuse of Singer.
58. In addition to failing to act, the Woodward Camp Defendants and its leadership,
including Defendant Shulman, failed to report the sexual contact to law enforcement authorities,
USA Gymnastics, or the U.S. Center for SafeSport, thus facilitating inappropriate contact and
Singer, Defendant Shulman, and the Woodward Camp Defendants and their agents and/or
employees was a factual cause of S.S.’s harm and was a substantial factor in causing and did
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f. Depression;
g. Anxiety;
h. Night terrors;
i. Fear;
j. Flashbacks;
k. Panic attacks;
l. Racing thoughts;
q. Past and future pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of life’s pleasures;
60. As set forth more fully below, the negligence, recklessness, and outrageous
conduct of the Defendants was a direct and proximate cause of harm to S.S.
61. Plaintiff S.S.’s injuries were caused solely by the negligence, recklessness, and
outrageous conduct of the Defendants, as set forth more fully herein, and were not caused or
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i. Failure to use reasonable and due care under the circumstances; and
all Defendants, jointly and severally, in an amount in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits,
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65. Defendants had a duty to use reasonable care in selecting, supervising, and
controlling employees.
66. Defendants knew that it was placing coaches, including Nathaniel Singer, in a
special relationship of trust with children, a vulnerable group, while acting in the course of their
67. Defendants knew it was placing coaches, including Nathaniel Singer, in a position
where they would have the opportunity to commit harm to children, including S.S.
68. Defendants knew that it had the ability to supervise and control its coaches,
69. Prior to the abuse of S.S., Defendants knew that Nathaniel Singer had committed
multiple violations of camp policy by improperly being alone with and isolating minor-campers.
70. Prior the abuse of S.S., Defendants had been specifically warned of the danger
71. Defendants knew it was in a position to supervise its coaches, including Nathaniel
Singer, to prevent further acts of harm, including inappropriate sexual contact and sexual abuse.
72. Defendants knew or should have known that its coaches could harm children,
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b. Failing to ensure that Nathaniel Singer was not alone with a child and/or
children;
f. Failing to educate and train Nathaniel Singer and other coaches about
appropriate spotting techniques;
74. Defendants did not attempt to prevent the foreseeable harm, and instead took a
course of conduct that increased the risk that coaches could harm minors, including Nathaniel
75. Defendants actively concealed and/or ignored Nathaniel Singer inappropriate and
pedophiliac behaviors.
76. Defendants were in a position to prevent the harm Nathaniel Singer inflicted on
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Defendants, jointly and severally, in an amount in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits,
78. Defendants knew prior to 2016 that S.S. and other young children in its camps
were vulnerable and potential victims of inappropriate sexual contact and/or sexual abuse.
79. Defendants also knew prior to 2016 that the access to vulnerable youths and the
physical contact required by gymnastic coaches when spotting gymnasts makes being
gymnastics coach an enticing vocation to pedophiles and others seeking to abuse and exploit
children.
80. Defendants owed a duty to exercise reasonable care in the selection and retention
of coaches in Woodward Gymnastics Camp, and specifically a duty to remain vigilant with
respect to possible pedophiles and others seeking to abuse and exploit children.
81. Prior to the abuse of S.S., Defendants knew or should have known in the exercise
of reasonable diligence of Nathaniel Singer’s repeated violations of camp policy in being alone
with and isolating minor campers and the danger he posed to minor campers.
82. Defendants failed to exercise reasonable care in the selection of and retention of
g. Failing to terminate Nathaniel Singer and/or remove him from the position of
gymnastics coach after learning of his repeated violations of camp policy in
being alone with and isolating minor campers, and the danger he posed to minor
campers;
damages, jointly and severally, in an amount in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, exclusive
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70. Defendant is vicariously liable for the actions described herein of its agents,
servants, and/or employees, including, but not limited to, Matt Lea, Gregory Frew, Pamela
71. The inappropriate sexual contact and grooming occurred while Nathaniel Singer
was performing his duties as a gymnastics coach, including spotting the gymnasts and
72. The inappropriate sexual contact and grooming occurred while Nathaniel Singer
was a gymnastics coach at the Woodward Gymnastics Camp’s overnight summer camp, and thus
occurred within the authorized time and space limits of his employment with the Woodward
Camp Defendants.
73. Defendants knew or should have known of Nathaniel Singer’s prior misconduct
with minor gymnasts/campers and his propensity for inappropriate sexual contact with minors
74. After learning of Singer’s inappropriate sexual contact with S.S., Defendants
continued to retain Singer as a coach at the camp that Summer, thus ratifying and adopting any
conduct by Defendant Singer that may have otherwise exceeded the scope of his agency.
75. Defendants rehired Nathaniel Singer in the Summer of 2018, knowing of his prior
sexual abuse of campers and ratifying and adopting any conduct by Defendant Singer that may
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76. Defendants again rehired Nathaniel Singer in the Summer of 2019, knowing of
his prior sexual abuse of campers and ratifying and adopting any conduct by Defendant Singer
77. The actions and/or omissions of Defendants and their agents, servants, and/or
employees and administrators, including Matt Lea, Gregory Frew, Pamela Velasquez, and
Defendants Brittany Shulman and Nathaniel Singer, were a factual cause of and/or placed
Plaintiff S.S. at an increased risk of harm for and/or was a substantial factor in causing, and did
directly and proximately cause the harm suffered described herein by Plaintiff S.S.
78. Defendants are liable for the negligent conduct of any and all agents, ostensible
agents, servants, and/or employees, including Matt Lea, Gregory Frew, Pamela Velasquez, and
Defendants Brittany Shulman and Nathaniel Singer as described herein pursuant to principles of
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands damages against all Defendants, jointly and severally,
in an amount in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, delay
80. The aforementioned conduct by Defendant Nathaniel Singer inflicted upon S.S.
while at the Woodward Gymnastics Camp in the summer of 2016 constitutes inappropriate sexual
contact with a minor and rises to the level of sexual assault and physical battery.
contact, S.S. was caused to suffer painful physical, mental, and emotional harm as outlined above.
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WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands damages against all Defendants, jointly and severally,
in an amount in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, delay
Respectfully Submitted,
Date: 9/8//2022
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