Sports Programs Expert Witnesses

R. Leslie Nichols, is a specialist in developing safety and security programs to protect children, under the care of organizations, from sexual abuse, violence, abduction and other forms of extreme threats and risks. He served for 22 years as the lead youth safety and facility expert for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which serves approximately 4 million youth at 4,000 sites located in dedicated and shared facilties on school-based sites, military bases, tribal lands, camps, public housing projects, parks and recreation facilities, community centers and churches.  He has participated in numerous national initiatives for the reduction of child sexual abuse within organizations and is the past president of the National Coalition for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.

Mr. Nichols a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) through ASIS International, has a Master of Science in Security Administration, holds certificates in Enterprise Risk Management and Emergency Response Planning,has been educated in terrorism and homeland security issues at the graduate level.  He has been a licensed architect since 1982 and is experienced in applying "CPTED" and situational crime prevention. 

Mr. Nichols has conducted safety-related consultations and presentations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, England, Spain, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan. Most recently co-authored (along with Michael Dorn and Phuong Ngyuen, 

Litigation Support - Mr. Nichols provides expert witness services in matters involving Safety, Security, and Risk Reduction in the care of school age children and teens. His expertise is available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant and includes strategies to prevent harm from:

Child Protection Programs Youth Serving Organizations Out of School Time Programs Child Sexual Abuse Bullying Child Abduction

Missing Children Care and Custody of Children Supervision of Children Physical Injury to Children Security CPTED

View Les Nichols' Consulting Profile.

Katherine Starr has experience in School and Amateur Sport-related, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, College Athletics / Sports Injuries.

Katherine is a two time Olympian 1984 and 1988 (Great Britain), winning two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games.She founded Safe4Athletes in 2011 as a result of living for decades with pain and suffering from the tragic effects of coach athlete sexual abuse. Safe4Athletes was brought to life to help other athletes who have experienced the same destructive abuse of power in the coach athlete relationship.  Safe4Athletes’ mission is to advocate for athletes that have been abused, bullied or harassed by their more powerful coach or teammate.

Katherine has worked with many local governments and congress in the United States and internationally.  She has been instrumental in changing several state laws pertaining to sexual abuse. Katherine has written for multiple Senate hearings on coach-athlete sexual abuse. She has been featured on ESPN (Outside the Lines), NBC Sports Radio, NPR, BBC Radio, NY Times, as well other nationally recognized media outlets in sports.

Litigation Support - Katherine serves as an Expert witness for legal teams working on cases involving athletes in coach-athlete sexual abuse, athlete on athlete sexual abuse, athlete cyber-bullying, athlete sexual hazing, as well as many forms of athletic abuse in general. She has brought expertise to single multi-plaintiff cases, working closely with the legal teams, from discovery to trial for both plaintiff and defense cases.

View Katherine Starr's Consulting Profile.

Douglas Baumgarten, M.S., offers consulting and expert witness services related to Fitness, Health Clubs, Exercise Equipment, Personal Training and Sports. Mr. Baumgarten is a graduate of Harvard University and California University of Penna. (M.S. Exercise Science). He is a certified Health/Fitness Director (Amer. Coll. of Sports Medicine), Performance Enhancement Specialist, Medical Exercise Specialist, Bike Fitter, cycling coach, and baseball/softball official.

Mr. Baumgarten has 35+ years in the fitness industry, as personal trainer, manager, consultant, equipment dealer, President of a large fitness company, and owner of SportFit Consulting. He has over 12 years' experience as a legal expert, on cases from equipment accidents to health club employee conduct. He works with both plaintiffs and defendants, and has testified in civil and criminal courts.

Mr. Baumgarten has contributed to Fitness Management magazine, Boardroom magazine, Club Management magazine, and other publications. His expertise also includes facility design and layout, as well as exercise equipment safety and efficacy.