A woman has filed a lawsuit against former Los Angeles Lakers player and coach Byron Scott, accusing him of sexually assaulting her in 1987 when she was 15 and he was 26. The lawsuit, originally filed in December 2022 and amended on May 1, alleges Scott of sexual battery and false imprisonment. Scott, 64, attempted to have his identity withheld from court documents, but a judge denied this request. The amended complaint publicly named Scott for the first time.
According to the court filing, the alleged assault took place during a visit from the Lakers at Campbell Hall High in Los Angeles, where the victim was attending summer classes. The incident allegedly occurred in a locked janitor’s closet in the high school gymnasium. Scott was a player for the Lakers at that time.
The lawsuit was filed under a California law that allowed older cases to be brought forward for underage plaintiffs, with the defendant remaining anonymous until specific conditions were met. Scott’s attorney, Linda Bauermeister, stated that while her client acknowledges sexual contact, he believed the girl was of legal age at the time.
Scott was married to his first wife, Anita Scott, during the alleged assault, and they divorced in 2014. The lawsuit also names Campbell Hall High, alleging negligence on the part of school officials for failing to protect the victim. The suit seeks damages exceeding $25,000 for loss of earnings and attorney fees to be paid by Scott and the school.
Scott, a former shooting guard, won NBA championships with the Lakers and later served as head coach for the team. He also played for other NBA teams and coached in the league until 2016. Currently coaching in the Philippines, Scott is married to Cece Gutierrez, known for her appearances on the reality show “Basketball Wives.”
