Statements from Rick Butlers attorney, Tracy L.

Stanker, from Ekl, Williams &

Provenzale LLC in Lisle, Illinois
1) Below is Rick Butlers statement in response to Sarah Powers-Barnhards allegations and her
lawsuit against AAU:
"The allegations made by Sarah Powers-Barnhard against Rick Butler are absolutely
false, maliciously motivated, and are being made for the sole purpose of defaming Rick
Butler and AAU. The lawsuit filed by Ms. Powers-Barnhard against AAU, which
includes undeniable fabrications, demonstrates her complete lack of credibility. She
makes allegations against Mr. Butler from the years 1982-1984, specifically alleging an
incident at the 1983 AAU Jr. Olympic Volleyball championships which she claims
happened in a dormitory on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, California. There is
nothing in that allegation that is even remotely plausible. Between the late 1970's
through 1994, the AAU Jr. Olympic Volleyball championships were held every year at
Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle, Illinois. The AAU Jr. Olympic Volleyball
championships have never been held at UCLA and during Sarah Powers-Barnhards
time at Sports Performance, her team never stayed in a dormitory during the AAU Jr.
Olympic championships since the tournament was held less than 30 minutes from the
players homes. It should also be noted that Ms. Powers-Barnhard graduated from high
school in 1983 and was not even living in the same state as Rick Butler after July of
1983, which proves that Ms. PowersBarnhard's claims from 1984 are also completely
false. It is devastating to Rick and his family that someone, especially one of his former
players, would invent such vicious lies about him in an effort to deliberately harm his
reputation, his volleyball club, and AAU. Rick is confident that the truth will soon be
exposed and Ms. Powers-Barnhard will be held accountable for her false statements
against him."
2) Below is Rick Butlers response regarding USA Volleyballs 1995 findings:
Rick Butler denies the findings made by USA Volleyball in 1995 regarding conduct with
his former players in the 1980s. Prior to making the findings, USA Volleyball unfairly
prevented Rick Butler from defending himself against the allegations by not allowing him
to present witnesses in his own defense at the hearing or cross examine his accusers. By
doing so, USA Volleyball violated Rick Butlers most fundamental due process rights and
made baseless findings against him. In December 2000, USA Volleyball remedied the
injustice and permitted Rick Butler to rejoin USA Volleyball. Rick Butler has remained a
member of USA Volleyball in good standing for the last 16 years. During that time, Rick
has coached over 20,000 junior age female athletes in his club and at hundreds of camps
and clinics and not a single complaint or accusation has been made against him for any
improper conduct against those athletes. Rick is extremely grateful for the tremendous
amount of support that he has received from his former players, current players, and
their families.
3) Sarah Powers-Barnhard, Christine Brigman and Julie Bremner were the individuals referenced
in USA Volleyballs 1995 letter. Therefore, the statement that Rick Butler issued responding to
the findings made by USA Volleyball in that letter would also be responsive to the allegations
made by Christine Brigman and Julie Bremner. Rick Butler issues the following statement:

Rick Butler has never sexually abused any individual and the allegations made by
Christine Brigman, Julie Bremner and Sarah Powers-Barnhard that he did so over 30
years ago are absolutely false. Rick Butler has never been accused of committing any
crime, nor could he be, based upon the complete fabrication invented by these women, a
fabrication that has drastically changed over the last 30 years in order to defame Rick
Butler and harm his reputation.
In 1995, prior to making findings related to conduct with these women, USA Volleyball
unfairly prevented Rick Butler from defending himself against the allegations by not
allowing him to present witnesses in his own defense at the hearing or cross examine his
accusers. By doing so, USA Volleyball violated Rick Butlers most fundamental due
process rights and made baseless findings against him. In December 2000, USA
Volleyball remedied the injustice and permitted Rick Butler to rejoin USA Volleyball.
Rick Butler has remained a member of USA Volleyball in good standing for the last 16
years. During that time, Rick has coached over 20,000 junior age female athletes in his
club and at hundreds of camps and clinics and not a single complaint or accusation has
been made against him for any improper conduct against those athletes. Rick is
extremely grateful for the tremendous amount of support that he has received from his
former players, current players, and their families.

4) On whether or not Rick Butler is going to go to the AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball
Championships next month in Orlando:
Rick Butler and his teams will be attending the AAU National Volleyball
Championships just as they have done for the last 35 years. Rick is not going to allow an
individual, who has made demonstrably false allegations against him and AAU from over
30 years ago, take away from his commitment to the hundreds of athletes in his club who
are attending the tournament.