Former Los Angeles Lakers player and coach Byron Scott is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl at a team event in 1987, according to a lawsuit recently unsealed.
The complaint, originally filed under seal in December 2022, names Scott after a judge denied his efforts to remain anonymous as "John Doe." The amended filing made his name public on May 1.
The lawsuit states the alleged assault occurred in a janitor's closet at Campbell Hall High School in Los Angeles during the summer of 1987. The alleged victim was attending summer classes when members of the Los Angeles Lakers visited the campus.
An attorney representing Byron Scott, Linda Bauermeister, issued a statement acknowledging sexual contact occurred. However, Bauermeister maintained Scott believed the plaintiff was 18 or older at the time of the encounter.
"Our client is devastated by the complaint," Bauermeister said in the statement. "Our client believed the plaintiff to be over 18 and had no idea she would claim otherwise until 35 years later. He respects girls and women, and the claims have blindsided him and his family."
Scott was 26 years old and playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987. The team was on campus filming an instructional basketball video and meeting with students, parents, and faculty members.
The lawsuit was filed under a California statute that temporarily allowed civil claims for alleged childhood sexual abuse beyond the standard statute of limitations. This law enabled the plaintiff to bring the action forward decades after the alleged incident.
Campbell Hall High is also named as a defendant in the suit. The complaint accuses school officials of negligence for allegedly failing to provide adequate supervision and protection for the student during the event.
The plaintiff seeks a trial by jury and monetary damages exceeding $25,000 from both Scott and the school. These damages include claims for loss of earnings and attorney fees.
Scott won three NBA championships as a player with the Lakers in the 1980s. He later coached in the NBA from 1998 to 2016, including a period leading the Lakers.
