Bakersfield, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) -- Two former California State University, Bakersfield softball players filed a lawsuit against the university, the Board of Trustees for California State University, along with former Assistant Coach James Davenport, on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The lawsuit identifies the plaintiffs as V. S. and J. R. It said this is done to protect their privacy as they are claiming sexual harassment, abuse, and assault allegations.
The former players allege that both Head Softball Coach Letty Olivarez and Assistant Coach Davenport created a sexually-charged environment because they openly discussed their sex lives with the team between 2022 and 2025.
The lawsuit also claims that other players came forward with complaints of harassment against Davenport and were punished by not being included in away tournaments, and the university failed to escalate their complaints.
It said the group of players that filed complaints was given the name "Snitch Group" by Davenport, and he was not reprimanded.
They also claim Davenport's harassment escalated to physical acts during the 2024-2025 school year by touching V.S. and leaving a visible mark on her inner leg after a game at Loyola Marymount University.
J.R. said Olivarez told the team to spy on Davenport to see if he was having relationships with other girls. She said she did observe him being intimate with a member of the school's soccer team.
They claim the harassment continued until February 2025. V.S. and her family say they reported and complained to CSU Police, and nothing was done.
That same month, the players were sent home from that year's Fresno State Invitational following an argument with administrator Cindy Goodman, who was traveling with the team following the complaints by V.S. and J.R.
Following the lawsuit filing, CSUB President Vernon B. Harper Jr. released the following statement: "We take the concerns raised by current and former students seriously and will fully cooperate in the legal proceeding. As CSUB reviews the filing, we pledge to be open and transparent throughout the process and provide more information when we are able to do so, in accordance with privacy laws in place to protect current and former students. Our mission and focus remain on providing a safe and welcoming space for our students, where they can flourish and thrive through the power of education."
Davenport says he and Olivarez deny all allegations made in the lawsuit.
In March, Davenport and Olivarez were put on leave following accusations of misconduct. The accusations were made in a TikTok video by now former player Violet Salazar.
That video has since been deleted, but in the video, she claims that Davenport sexually assaulted her and was body-shamed by Olivarez. In an interview with Eyewitness News in March, Salazar said that she was not the only victim and claimed that several other former players reported the couple to the university's Title IX office.
As a result, Olivarez and Davenport were suspended by the university. Olivarez is still on paid leave, and Davenport is no longer an employee with CSUB.
Davenport denied the allegations made by Salazar and said they were brought forward in retaliation for raising concerns regarding Salazar's alleged romantic relationship with Assistant Basketball Coach Kevin Mays, who is now facing human trafficking and child pornography charges.
Harper also responded to claims raised by Davenport, saying: "The most damaging falsehood must be corrected at once: At no time did CSUB ignore allegations of criminal activity against any coach, employee, or student of this organization. All accusations of criminal activity stemming from investigations of the Athletics Program were reported to outside law-enforcement agencies, including the Bakersfield Police Department, Kern County District Attorney's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation."