Two former Cal State Bakersfield softball players have filed a civil lawsuit against the university, alleging negligent hiring practices and the creation of a toxic environment that included various forms of harassment.
The lawsuit was filed on October 7 on behalf of two individuals identified only by their initials, V.S. and J.R., to protect their privacy. The defendants include the California State University Board of Trustees, CSU-Bakersfield, and James Davenport, a former assistant coach with the CSUB softball program.
According to the suit, CSU Bakersfield has a history of allowing hostile and harassing environments to exist within its athletic programs. The plaintiffs allege the university failed to conduct proper due diligence when hiring both head softball coach Leticia Olivarez and assistant coach James Davenport, despite documented issues and complaints from their previous positions at other universities…