KATHERINE STARR®

Where There Are Rights™

Search Legal Theories

Sexual Abuse Expert Witness

Expert testimony in cases involving Title IX, negligent hiring, and institutional failure with specialized experience in athlete abuse and youth-serving systems.

Katherine Starr is an Olympian, expert witness, and institutional misconduct specialist with over a decade of experience consulting on sexual abuse, Title IX violations, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, breaches of standard of care, and systemic failures within youth-serving environments. She provides expert reports, deposition services, and trial testimony in complex litigation involving institutional misconduct and athlete safety. Katherine has served as an expert witness for the U.S. Department of Justice and has provided expert opinions in cases involving major collegiate athletic programs, national sports organizations, and youth-serving institutions, including matters involving USA Gymnastics.

Featured Article = Justice in the Pursuit of Sport

My testimony as an expert witness in coach–athlete abuse was not only accepted at trial but also upheld on appeal, affirming both my qualifications and the weight of my expertise.

As regulatory enforcement shifts, I specialize in framing institutional negligence, defining the duty of care, breaches, and systemic failures that place organizations at legal risk beyond Title IX.

My Specialist Services

01. Case Evaluation and Strategic Consulting

Katherine Starr assists legal teams in analyzing complex abuse and misconduct cases, identifying systemic failures, and advising on case strategy to support litigation efforts.

02. Deposition Preparation and Testimony

With extensive experience preparing for and participating in depositions, Katherine offers articulate, fact-based testimony that supports your case strategy during discovery and pre-trial proceedings.

03. Expert Opinion Reports and Rebuttals

Katherine provides clear, detailed expert reports and rebuttal reports addressing Title IX violations, negligent hiring and supervision, breaches of standard of care, and institutional misconduct.

04. Trial Preparation and Courtroom Testimony

Katherine delivers confident, credible expert testimony in courtroom settings, translating complex institutional failures and abuse dynamics into clear, persuasive narratives for judges and juries.

why hire me ?

Why Choose My Expert Witness Services

01. Expertise in Institutional Misconduct and Abuse Cases

With over a decade of experience in consulting on sexual abuse, Title IX violations, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and standard of care breaches, Katherine Starr provides expert reports and testimony in complex, high-profile litigation involving systemic institutional failures.

02. Specialization in Complex Litigation

Katherine specializes in navigating intricate cases involving coach-athlete dynamics, institutional liability, and organizational misconduct. She delivers clear, authoritative expert reports in Title IX, NCAA, and abuse-related matters, with testimony prepared for deposition and trial settings.

03. Recognized by Leading Legal and Government Entities

Katherine has been retained as an expert witness by the U.S. Department of Justice and has provided expert opinions in cases involving major collegiate athletic programs and national sports organizations. Her experience extends to institutional compliance and policy development in youth-serving environments.

04. A Unique Perspective Grounded in Athletic Excellence

As a two-time Olympian and elite athlete, Katherine brings a unique understanding of power dynamics within athletic systems, offering insights that resonate with judges, juries, and legal teams handling complex abuse and misconduct cases.

My Experience

High Profile Legal Cases

Landmark Cases

Advocacy and Policy Leadership

Contact

Katherine Starr is a nationally recognized expert in sexual abuse cases involving sport, education, and youth-serving organizations. She provides expert witness support and consulting in matters involving:

Athlete abuse and institutional misconduct
Title IX violations
Youth sports, camps, and school-based programs

Katherine helps legal teams and investigators translate governance failure into clear, admissible analysis.

Use the form below to share your inquiry. For urgent matters, include relevant background for expedited review. Responses provided within 3–5 business days if aligned with current casework.

Expert Inquiry

Have a question?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an expert witness in sexual abuse cases?

An expert witness in sexual abuse cases provides independent analysis and testimony that clarifies institutional responsibilities, policy failures, and power dynamics that contributed to the alleged harm. Katherine Starr draws on decades of lived, athletic, and legal experience to help courts and legal teams understand how abuse occurs not in isolation, but within flawed systems.

What is Katherine Starr’s role as a sexual abuse expert witness?

Katherine provides expert opinions, deposition testimony, and litigation consulting in cases involving abuse, harassment, and institutional failure. She is frequently retained to analyze coach-athlete dynamics, Title IX compliance, policy violations, and organizational negligence across athletic, educational, and professional settings.

What types of cases does Katherine specialize in?

Sexual abuse and harassment in sport, education, and public institutions
Title IX violations and institutional safeguarding failures
Negligent hiring, supervision, or retention of individuals with access to vulnerable populations
Civil suits involving systemic negligence and cover-ups

What institutions and environments does Katherine evaluate?

Katherine is retained in matters involving athletic programs, colleges and universities, school districts, religious organizations, youth camps, and professional work environments. Her work often includes evaluating how leadership decisions, cultural norms, and structural gaps contributed to foreseeable harm.

What makes Katherine Starr’s insights unique?

Katherine combines firsthand knowledge as a two-time Olympian with her expertise as a legal theorist. She authored the trademarked frameworks Negligent Digital Access^™ and Negligent Dating^™, which expand liability theories into the digital and platform design space. Her approach is both trauma-informed and systemically rigorous.

Who can benefit from Katherine’s expert services?

Civil litigators, Title IX attorneys, survivor advocates, institutional defense counsel, and risk managers. Katherine has been retained by both plaintiff and defense teams in high-stakes matters across the United States and internationally.

Does Katherine work on both plaintiff and defense cases?

Yes. Katherine’s expert role is neutral and independent. She provides fact-based analysis grounded in legal standards and organizational accountability regardless of which side retains her.

What industries and organizations does Katherine’s expertise cover?

Katherine specialises in sports-related cases but also extends her expertise to schools, camps, and other youth-serving organisations. Her work focuses on safeguarding failures, abuse prevention, and institutional liability across these environments.

Has Katherine testified in court?

Yes. She has provided both deposition and trial testimony in civil litigation, including high-profile cases involving national governing bodies, universities, and public institutions. Her reports and findings are regularly cited in pre-trial hearings and settlements.