Mariano Rivera and Wife Face Civil Lawsuit Over Alleged Abuse at Church Events

Mariano Rivera and Wife Named in Civil Lawsuit: A Closer Look at the Allegations

In a surprising turn of events, former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, have been named as defendants in a civil lawsuit. This lawsuit, filed by a girl and her mother, alleges that the girl was sexually abused by an older child at events associated with the Riveras’ church in Westchester County, New York, back in 2018.

The lawsuit, which was initially filed in January in Westchester County Supreme Court, did not originally list the Riveras as defendants. Instead, it accused them of failing to protect the girl. The original suit named Refuge of Hope, the church founded by the Riveras where Clara Rivera serves as a senior pastor, and a limited liability company linked to the Riveras’ former home address. The Riveras sold this home in 2022.

Adam Horowitz, the attorney representing the girl, stated on Wednesday that the Riveras were added as named defendants in an amended court filing finalized that day. This decision came after it was determined that the Riveras were not connected with the LLC. Horowitz mentioned that the details within the lawsuit largely remain unchanged.

It’s important to note that the Riveras have not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing. Joseph A. Ruta, the attorney for the Riveras, previously stated that any allegations suggesting they knew about or failed to act on reports of child abuse “are completely false.” He emphasized that the couple only became aware of the allegations in 2022 after receiving a letter from an attorney requesting a financial settlement.

The original complaint outlines that Clara Rivera recommended the girl, a member of the Riveras’ church, to attend a summer camp internship program in 2018 at an affiliated church in Florida. The lawsuit claims that children at this camp resided “without parental supervision,” and Refuge of Hope covered the girl’s expenses for the program.

According to the lawsuit, the girl, born in 2007, was “repeatedly sexually abused” by a “much older camper” during her time at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, and later at the Riveras’ home. The girl’s mother reportedly became concerned about her daughter’s safety at the summer camp after a phone call from her daughter.

The mother claims in the lawsuit that she contacted Clara Rivera to express her concerns. In response, Clara Rivera allegedly assured the mother that she would investigate and respond. The lawsuit further alleges that the Riveras traveled to Florida to see the girl and “each separately isolated and intimidated” her to remain silent about her experiences at the Ignite Life summer internship, including the abuse.

Later in the summer of 2018, a barbecue was held at a home owned by the Riveras in Rye, New York. The lawsuit states that this event was exclusively for “minor children” who attended Refuge of Hope. It alleges that the girl was “left unsupervised” with the older child, who again abused her “by engaging in acts that would constitute a sexual offense under Article 130 of New York Penal Law.”

In 2021, the lawsuit claims that the girl was sexually assaulted again, this time by a male youth leader at Refuge of Hope. The girl’s mother discovered this abuse after finding months of electronic communications between her daughter and the youth leader, according to the lawsuit.

Subsequently, the girl and her mother filed police reports in both New York and Florida regarding the abuse incidents in 2018 and 2021.

The Associated Press reported in January that Ignite Life Center had settled lawsuits brought by three individuals, also represented by Horowitz, who claimed they were abused as teenagers by a volunteer at the church. Additionally, two others affiliated with the church have been charged with lewd and lascivious battery against minors.

Refuge of Hope, founded in 2009 by the Riveras, initially used their home as a gathering space before moving to a building in New Rochelle, New York.

Mariano Rivera, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, is widely regarded as the greatest closer of all time. He spent his entire 19-season career with the Yankees, winning five World Series rings.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.