Former Nyack College Softball Coach, Kurt Ludwigsen, Withdraws His Counterclaims Against His Former Players For Allegedly “Making False Allegation[s] Of Sexual Harassment
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A. Doe v. Kurt Ludwigsen, in his individual capacity; Kirsten Lambertson, in her individual capacity; Michael G. Scales, individually and as President of Nyack College; David C. Jennings, individually and as Executive Vice President of Nyack College; Keith Davie, individually and as Athletic Director for Nyack College; Amanda Aikens, individually and as Assistant Athletic Director for Nyack College; Taylor Brown, individually and as Assistant Softball Coach for Nyack College; Karen Davie, individually and as Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator for Nyack College; and Nyack College
In the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains, NY)
E. Doe v. Kurt Ludwigsen, in his individual capacity; Kirsten Lambertson, in her individual capacity; Michael G. Scales, individually and as President of Nyack College; David C. Jennings, individually and as Executive Vice President of Nyack College; Keith Davie, individually and as Athletic Director for Nyack College; Amanda Aikens, individually and as Assistant Athletic Director for Nyack College; Taylor Brown, individually and as Assistant Softball Coach for Nyack College; Karen Davie, individually and as Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator for Nyack College; and Nyack College
In the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains, NY)
K. Doe v. Kurt Ludwigsen, in his individual capacity; Kirsten Lambertson, in her individual capacity; Michael G. Scales, individually and as President of Nyack College; David C. Jennings, individually and as Executive Vice President of Nyack College; Keith Davie, individually and as Athletic Director for Nyack College; Amanda Aikens, individually and as Assistant Athletic Director for Nyack College; Taylor Brown, individually and as Assistant Softball Coach for Nyack College; Karen Davie, individually and as Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator for Nyack College; and Nyack College
In the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains, NY)
M. Doe v. Kurt Ludwigsen, in his individual capacity; Kirsten Lambertson, in her individual capacity; Michael G. Scales, individually and as President of Nyack College; David C. Jennings, individually and as Executive Vice President of Nyack College; Keith Davie, individually and as Athletic Director for Nyack College; Amanda Aikens, individually and as Assistant Athletic Director for Nyack College; Taylor Brown, individually and as Assistant Softball Coach for Nyack College; Karen Davie, individually and as Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator for Nyack College; and Nyack College
In the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains, NY)
S. Doe v. Kurt Ludwigsen, in his individual capacity; Kirsten Lambertson, in her individual capacity; Michael G. Scales, individually and as President of Nyack College; David C. Jennings, individually and as Executive Vice President of Nyack College; Keith Davie, individually and as Athletic Director for Nyack College; Amanda Aikens, individually and as Assistant Athletic Director for Nyack College; Taylor Brown, individually and as Assistant Softball Coach for Nyack College; Karen Davie, individually and as Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator for Nyack College; and Nyack College
In the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains, NY)
Y. Doe v. Kurt Ludwigsen, in his individual capacity; Kirsten Lambertson, in her individual capacity; Michael G. Scales, individually and as President of Nyack College; David C. Jennings, individually and as Executive Vice President of Nyack College; Keith Davie, individually and as Athletic Director for Nyack College; Amanda Aikens, individually and as Assistant Athletic Director for Nyack College; Taylor Brown, individually and as Assistant Softball Coach for Nyack College; Karen Davie, individually and as Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator for Nyack College; and Nyack College
In the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains, NY)
FORMER NYACK COLLEGE SOFTBALL COACH, KURT LUDWIGSEN, WITHDRAWS HIS COUNTERCLAIMS AGAINST HIS FORMER PLAYERS FOR ALLEGEDLY “MAKING FALSE ALLEGATION[S] OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.”
On June 16, 2016, former Nyack College softball coach, Kurt Ludwigsen, voluntarily withdrew his counterclaims against six of his former softball players. Ludwigsen’s retreat comes in response to the blistering reaction of the federal judge, who took a dim view of his allegations in view of his plea to seven counts of sexual assault involving seven different student-athletes. Specifically, Ludwigsen admitted that he “forcibly touch[ed] the sexual or other intimate parts” of seven of his student-athletes “for the purpose of degrading or abusing such person, or for the purpose of gratifying [his] sexual desire.” N.Y. Penal Law § 130.52. Consequently, the federal judge found it implausible that Ludwigsen could have kept his coaching job.
Ludwigsen’s counterclaims alleged that his former players made “false allegation[s] of sexual harassment” to employees of Nyack College, the police, press and others, resulting in his termination from Nyack College. However, on January 21, 2016, Ludwigsen pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault against seven of his former players. On March 31, 2016, he was sentenced to three years of probation.
On May 18, 2016, the parties appeared before the Honorable Cathy Seibel in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in White Plains, New York, regarding Plaintiffs’ application to dismiss the scurrilous counterclaims. Judge Seibel appeared incredulous at Ludwigsen’s accusations, and remarked to his attorney, Michael Burke, “Mr. Burke, really? Really?” Judge Seibel further commented that she was “not clear how it could be plausible” that the Plaintiffs “wrongfully interfered with [Ludwigsen’s] contract for the sole purpose of harming him,” where “[t]hey reported that he acted inappropriately and there’s no question he did.” She remarked that “he was going to get fired for [his admitted criminal conduct]. It’s not plausible that they [Nyack College] would have kept him on.”
Plaintiffs’ counsel, Todd J. Krouner, states: “Ludwigsen’s transparent attempt to further harass the victims of his sexual assault has fallen on its face. It was never possible to reconcile Kurt Ludwigsen’s counterclaims against his former players with his guilty plea to multiple counts of sexual assault. Nevertheless, with the strong encouragement of Judge Seibel, Ludwigsen has acknowledged belatedly that his baseless counterclaims never had any merit.”
As previously reported, six former softball players filed civil lawsuits against Nyack College, its administrators and Ludwigsen. Those lawsuits allege that Ludwigsen’s outrageous conduct included, among other things, routinely licking his players’ ears, kissing their lips and faces, slapping their buttocks, grabbing their breasts, directing them to sit on his lap, lying on top of them, commenting about their physical attributes, having sexually explicit conversations with them, inviting a pornographic actress known as Allie Haze to practice and directing students to life counseling sessions with her, directing an underage drinking outing where his players were instructed to dress in cocktail dresses and dance with male strangers and offering to assist players to attain employment in the adult entertainment industry. Ludwigsen’s counter-claims failed to specify which of these, or any other, allegations of sexual harassment are allegedly false.
The plaintiffs are represented by the Law Office of Todd J. Krouner (Chappaqua, N.Y.). Mr. Krouner has experience representing victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and discrimination in schools and workplaces throughout the New York City metropolitan area.
A copy of the transcript of the May 18, 2016 court conference before the Honorable Judge Cathy Seibel is available here. For further information, please contact the Law Office of Todd J. Krouner at (914) 238-5800.