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Lawyer: Bar Ex-Tigers Player Chad Curtis From Questioning Abused Girls

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Chad Curtis (Booking Photo)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (CBS Detroit/AP) - A lawyer representing four current and former Lakewood High School girls who have sued ex-Detroit Tigers outfielder Chad Curtis for sexually abusing them has asked a judge to bar Curtis from questioning them.

Curtis seeks to represent himself in the $4 million lawsuit against him and the Western Michigan school district in federal court in Grand Rapids. The next hearing is Nov. 7.

The 45-year-old is currently serving seven years, one month to 15 years in prison on criminal sexual conduct convictions for abusing the girls while working as a volunteer weight-room trainer in 2012.

Attorney Joshua Sheffer wrote in a court filing Wednesday that letting Curtis participate in depositions would create a "very strong likelihood of further traumatization and intimidation."

The suit, filed last summer, accuses Curtis of battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Between 1992 and 2001, Curtis played for the then-California Angels, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. He won two World Series rings with the Yankees.

Curtis was poised to become the head football coach at Lakewood High School, near Lake Odessa, but resigned when the criminal complaint surfaced.

He maintains his innocence.

TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

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