allison.mahoney, Author at ALM Law • Page 2 of 7

Civil Options for College Athletes After Title IX Abuse

When an educational institution ignores or mishandles abuse involving a college athlete, civil law may provide avenues for accountability beyond internal processes. For athletes whose abuse was minimized, delayed, or improperly addressed by their school, a Title IX process may feel incomplete—or may never have meaningfully occurred at all. Civil law exists to address institutional […]

Civil Options for College Athletes After Title IX Abuse Read More »

What Happens During a Title IX Investigation?

Title IX / allison.mahoney

A Title IX investigation is a structured, administrative process used by schools to assess whether alleged misconduct, including sexual harassment, violates institutional policy. While every school’s procedures vary somewhat, most Title IX investigations follow a similar framework governed by federal regulations, institutional rules, and evolving case law. Title IX applies not only to classrooms and

What Happens During a Title IX Investigation? Read More »

SafeSport: What Every Athlete Needs to Know

Sexual Assault, Title IX / allison.mahoney

Image for SafeSport post of gymnast doing handstand

SafeSport did not come about by accident, and it did not come about because sports organizations suddenly chose transparency. The U.S. Center for SafeSport was created in 2017 in response to decades of sexual abuse, grooming, and institutional failure in Olympic and amateur sports—failures that were laid bare most publicly by the abuse perpetrated by

SafeSport: What Every Athlete Needs to Know Read More »

Colorado Teacher Patricio Alejandro Illanes Arrested: Legal Options for Families Considering Civil Lawsuits Against Schools

CSAM / allison.mahoney

Hand on keyboard depicting cyber abuse in Colorado

Colorado authorities recently arrested Patricio Alejandro Illanes, an educator who worked in multiple schools and youth-serving organizations, following an investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation of minors. According to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began after several online safety reports were submitted through a national cyber tipline. Law enforcement has stated that investigators

Colorado Teacher Patricio Alejandro Illanes Arrested: Legal Options for Families Considering Civil Lawsuits Against Schools Read More »

Why Athletes Don’t Report Abuse

Sexual Assault, Victims Rights / allison.mahoney

Athlete sitting from behind looking out onto a city

When people ask why athletes don’t report abuse, the question is often framed as a moral one: Why didn’t they say something? Why didn’t they come forward sooner? That framing misses the point. Silence is rarely about weakness or credibility. For many athletes, especially those abused as children or teenagers, silence is a rational response

Why Athletes Don’t Report Abuse Read More »

How Grooming Operates in Sports

Sexual Assault, Victims Rights / allison.mahoney

Volleyball player standing behind a net on a volleyball court

Grooming in sports is often misunderstood because it rarely looks like abuse at the beginning. It is not a single act or a sudden event. Grooming is a pattern of conduct that unfolds over time—one that involves gaining access to an athlete, building trust and dependence, gradually crossing boundaries, and creating conditions where abuse can

How Grooming Operates in Sports Read More »

Sexual Abuse by Medical Professionals in Colorado: What Survivors Should Know

Sexual Assault, Victims Rights / allison.mahoney

Abuse by medical professionals. Image of doctor holding patient's hand.

When you seek medical or therapeutic care, you are placing extraordinary trust in the person treating you. Doctors, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare providers hold significant authority, and Colorado law expects them to use that authority responsibly. When a provider abuses that power through sexual misconduct, the experience can be profoundly destabilizing. Many survivors are

Sexual Abuse by Medical Professionals in Colorado: What Survivors Should Know Read More »

Sexual Abuse in Colorado Schools: Prevalence, Cases, and Legal Options

Sexual Assault / allison.mahoney

When families send children to school, they trust that classrooms, hallways, and athletic programs will be safe. Yet in recent years, Colorado has seen a troubling number of sexual abuse cases in its schools. These lawsuits reveal not only misconduct by individuals but also systemic failures by school districts and administrators who failed to protect

Sexual Abuse in Colorado Schools: Prevalence, Cases, and Legal Options Read More »

Sexual Abuse by Religious Institutions in New York: Legal Options for Survivors

Sexual Assault / allison.mahoney

When survivors experience sexual assault in New York at the hands of trusted religious leaders, the consequences can be life-altering. Abuse within a spiritual context involves not only a violation of physical safety but also a betrayal of deep trust, faith, and community belonging. For decades, survivors faced immense barriers to justice. Institutions often prioritized

Sexual Abuse by Religious Institutions in New York: Legal Options for Survivors Read More »

Sexual Abuse by Medical Professionals – Legal Options for Survivors in New York

Sexual Assault / allison.mahoney

Patients place tremendous trust in doctors, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare providers. That trust is sacred—and when it is violated through sexual abuse, the impact can be devastating. Survivors often face trauma, confusion, and betrayal, compounded by the authority and influence medical professionals hold. Cases of sexual abuse by medical professionals have been reported in

Sexual Abuse by Medical Professionals – Legal Options for Survivors in New York Read More »

allison.mahoney

Stay updated