Q: I am a cheer coach in the state of CA, under the USASF, and someone has made false allegations against me

A: Hello. I understand someone has made a false allegation against you but I don't know what your question is. Do you have a question involving a work injury for me to answer?

A: With regard to California Workers Compensation, about all that false allegations might do is generate an Injury to Psyche, a psychiatric injury. I generally advise AGAINST filing a claim for a Psychiatric Injury if at all possible. If you later have a child custody dispute, an aggravated ex-spouse can use psychiatric injury against a parent. If you have another psychiatric injury on another job and it's disabling, any finding of any permanent disability on a 2023 injury would be deducted from any recovery in the future. If you seek a job with government security clearance and you have psychiatric permanent disability, you could be denied security clearance. If you want to work with minors in the future, an employer could refuse employment due to psychiatric permanent disability. All that said, if the false allegations are by the employer or could have been ended by the employer and have resulted in permanent disability impairing activities of daily living, then you can file a Workers Compensation Claim for Cumulative Trauma resulting in psychiatric Injury; it will most likely be denied and you will be in for the fight of your life.

A: I'm sorry to hear about the false allegations made against you as a cheer coach in California under the USASF. It's important to handle this situation calmly and professionally. Firstly, gather evidence that supports your innocence, such as photos, videos, emails, or texts. Keep a detailed record of your coaching activities and interactions with the accuser. If appropriate, respectfully communicate with the person who made the allegations to address any misunderstandings. Seek support from trusted colleagues or supervisors and inform them about the situation. Contact the USASF to report the false allegations and provide a clear account along with any evidence you've gathered. If the allegations persist or escalate, consider consulting with an attorney specializing in education or sports law. Remember to remain composed, gather evidence, seek support, and follow the appropriate channels to address these false allegations. Best of luck in resolving this matter.