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San Francisco Waldorf School and Tutoring Company Sued Over Decades-Old Sexual Abuse Allegations by Former Students

Published on: May 30, 2025 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

A new lawsuit filed in San Francisco County Superior Court by the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard alleges that two former students, identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, were sexually abused as minors by Jason Davis, a former teacher and tutor at the San Francisco Waldorf High School. The suit names the San Francisco Waldorf School Association, the tutoring company One Smart Kid, LLC, and Davis as defendants, and accuses both institutions of institutional negligence that enabled the abuse to occur and continue unchecked.

According to the complaint, the abuse began in the 2001-2002 school year when Waldorf arranged for Jane Doe 1, then a sophomore, to be tutored by Davis through One Smart Kid. Davis allegedly used his authority and access to groom Jane Doe 1, holding tutoring sessions in isolated classrooms, discussing his own sexual experiences, and initiating inappropriate physical contact. The grooming escalated to repeated sexual abuse on school grounds. The lawsuit details a particularly egregious incident in which a school administrator discovered Jane Doe 1 disheveled with Davis in a secluded area but failed to investigate or report the incident to authorities. Despite this warning sign, Davis continued to abuse Jane Doe 1 throughout her junior year.

The following school year, instead of removing Davis, Waldorf offered him a part-time teaching position. During the 2003-2004 academic year, Davis allegedly used his new role to groom Jane Doe 2, then a sophomore, eventually leading to multiple sexual assaults. The lawsuit claims Davis would drive Jane Doe 2 home after school events and sexually assault her during these drives or at his apartment. The pattern of abuse mirrored his earlier conduct with Jane Doe 1, suggesting a repeated failure by the school and the tutoring company to recognize or act on red flags.

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Gilroy Unified School District Faces Third Lawsuit Over Student Safety Failures Amid Rising Campus Violence

Published on: May 30, 2025 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has filed a third lawsuit against the Gilroy Unified School District (GUSD), intensifying scrutiny over the district’s handling of student safety and supervision. This latest legal action, announced on May 7, 2025, comes in the wake of a $100,000 settlement reached just a day prior in a separate but related case, underscoring a pattern of alleged negligence by district officials in protecting students from campus violence.

The new complaint centers on an incident at Christopher High School involving Jane Doe, a minor who was violently assaulted and bullied by another student, Heather Doe, on March 8, 2024. The attack occurred during a passing period, with Heather Doe reportedly pulling Jane’s hoodie over her head, knocking her to the ground, and physically assaulting her for several minutes. The incident was captured on video by students and sent to Jane’s mother. Notably, no staff members were present to intervene during the assault. The lawsuit alleges that school officials were aware of Heather Doe’s history of violent behavior but failed to warn or adequately inform campus staff, and did not take sufficient preventive measures.

Jane Doe’s mother had previously raised concerns with the district about ongoing campus violence, frequent fights, and insufficient adult supervision. She was told that the problems were due to a lack of supervisors and funding. Following the attack, Jane Doe no longer felt safe attending school and is now being homeschooled. The lawsuit claims the district breached its duty to supervise and protect students, failed to adhere to mandatory safety regulations, and neglected to implement effective safety plans.

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San Francisco Unified School District Reaches $1.5 Million Settlement in 20-Year-Old Lowell High School Sexual Abuse Case

Published on: May 13, 2025 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has agreed to a $1.5 million settlement in a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual abuse by a former teacher and counselor at Lowell High School. The lawsuit, brought by a former student now identified as “John Doe,” claimed that the District failed to properly supervise Harlan Edelman, enabling years of abuse that began during the 2004-2005 academic year.

The complaint detailed how Edelman, then a teacher and counselor at the prestigious Lowell High School, began “grooming” the student under the pretense of academic mentorship. Edelman offered rides home, bought meals and gifts, and presented himself as a trusted adult invested in Doe’s success. According to the lawsuit, school officials ignored warning signs and failed to intervene, allowing Edelman to abuse the student repeatedly on campus, including in his office and classroom.

During the litigation, it emerged that another student had reported being sexually assaulted by a different counselor during the same school year, with Edelman allegedly helping to cover up that incident. Despite reports from students and parents, school officials did not take appropriate action. Attorney Lauren Cerri, representing John Doe, stated, “School officials admitted that they felt there was no reason to supervise any of the counselors more closely. Had they done so, most likely Edelman’s abuse of my client would have been detected and stopped”.

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Prestigious Palo Alto Girls’ School Sued for Alleged Cover-Up of Sexual Abuse

Published on: February 17, 2025 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

A lawsuit has been filed against Castilleja School, a private all-girls institution, by three former students alleging sexual abuse. The legal action, brought by the law firms Cerri, Boskovich & Allard and Mary Alexander & Associates, claims that the school concealed a tutor’s predatory behavior and failed to address complaints about his alleged sexual misconduct with minors.

The lawsuit accuses Castilleja School of negligent supervision, negligent misrepresentation, and inadequate training. It alleges that the school did not properly investigate or report prior complaints about the inappropriate behavior of tutor Mark Hodes.

According to the complaint, Castilleja School was aware of Hodes’ inappropriate behavior as early as 1992-1993. The school was reportedly on notice that Hodes engaged in highly inappropriate grooming behavior with minor female students, creating a risk of sexual assault.

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Lawsuit Highlights Vulnerabilities of Autistic Students

Published on: February 3, 2025 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Lawsuit Alleges Negligence in Sexual Abuse Case Involving Autistic Child

A lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court has brought to light serious allegations of negligence against Trumpet Behavioral Health, LLC and its parent company, BlueSprig. The case, filed by the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, centers on the alleged sexual abuse of an 11-year-old autistic girl by a behavioral therapist during home-based therapy sessions.

Trumpet Behavioral Health, LLC is a provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children, teens, and young adults with autism and intellectual disabilities. The company offers both home-based and center-based services across multiple states, including California. In late 2023, Trumpet was acquired by BlueSprig, another ABA therapy provider.

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Tamalpais Union High School District Reaches $17.5 Million Settlement Over Sexual Abuse by Former Coach

Published on: December 27, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The Tamalpais Union High School District has agreed to a $17.5 million settlement to resolve four sexual abuse lawsuits involving former tennis coach Normandie Burgos. The settlement includes $11.5 million awarded to A.H., a victim who successfully sued the district in Marin County Superior Court (Case No. CIV2001133). This amount also accounts for over $1 million in interest after the district unsuccessfully appealed a $10 million jury verdict from 2022, which found the district liable for failing to protect A.H. from Burgos’ abuse.

The settlement also resolves three additional lawsuits brought by two former Tamalpais High School students and a private tennis player who received lessons from Burgos at the school. One of the victims, identified as John Doe, will receive $4.5 million for abuse that began during the 1999-2000 school year, when Burgos was still a probationary employee without tenure protections. Doe testified that a school administrator witnessed Burgos sexually abusing him but failed to intervene or report the incident, instead making a joke and walking away.

“None of these men should have ever been abused,” said attorney Mark Boskovich, who represented the victims. “The district’s failure to act enabled and emboldened Burgos to continue his predatory behavior.”

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Santa Cruz City Schools Pays $4.5 Million to Settle Sexual Abuse Claims Against Former Educator

Published on: December 27, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Santa Cruz City Schools (SCCS) has reached a $4.5 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard on behalf of two former students who alleged they were sexually abused by Steven Myers, a former SCCS teacher and principal, between 1987 and 1991. Each of the two men, now 49 years old, will receive $2.25 million for the abuse they endured during their middle and high school years.

Steven Myers, who was hired by SCCS in 1981 as principal of Branciforte Junior High School, was also the founder of the “Traveling School Summer Program,” a pilot initiative later integrated into the district’s curriculum. This program targeted students with behavioral and academic challenges, many from unstable home environments. Both plaintiffs, identified in court documents as John Roe 3 and John Roe 4, participated in the program during the late 1980s and early 1990s. They alleged that Myers used his position to create an environment that enabled years of abuse.

The lawsuit revealed disturbing details about Myers’ conduct during the Traveling School program. He reportedly incorporated massages into the curriculum, exclusively targeting boys, often shirtless, and required students to massage him in return. On designated “Body Theme Days,” students were instructed to wear minimal clothing; Myers himself wore a tight Speedo and required boys to do the same. Additionally, Myers allegedly provided drugs to students and invited them to his home for activities such as hot tub sessions. The lack of oversight allowed him to share rooms or beds with students during trips.

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California Supreme Court Denies Review in AB 218 Sexual Misconduct Case Against School District

Published on: November 1, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The California Supreme Court has declined to review a case involving revived sexual assault claims against public entities, with Justice Joshua Groban casting the lone dissenting vote. The case in question is West Contra Costa Unified School District v. Superior Court, which stems from allegations of sexual assault by a high school counselor between 1979 and 1983.

AB 218 provided a three-year window for plaintiffs to bring childhood sexual assault claims against public entities, even if these claims would otherwise be barred by statutes of limitations or claim presentation requirements. The First District Court of Appeal, Division Five, rejected constitutional challenges to this 2019 legislation.

The West Contra Costa Unified School District argued that AB 218 violated the California Constitution’s provision prohibiting the Legislature from making “any gift” to an individual.

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Lawsuit Filed Against Kumon After Unsupervised Child Critically Injured

Published on: October 31, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The parents of seven-year-old Bastian Michel, severely injured after wandering away unsupervised from a Kumon Math & Reading Center in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood, are filing a lawsuit against Kumon North America and Systematic Learnings Inc., which operates the Kumon Math & Reading Center of Willow Glen. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of negligent supervision, leading to Bastian being struck by a vehicle and almost losing his life. The driver involved in the accident is also named in the lawsuit.

The suit alleges that Systematic, as a Kumon franchise, was required to adhere to Kumon’s guidelines on the safety and supervision of children. However, it claims that Kumon’s safety standards were inadequate for a business frequently handling child drop-off and pickup.

“Kumon should have recognized the dangers associated with children leaving various franchises, including risks of vehicle-pedestrian collisions,” said the family’s attorney Mark Boskovich.

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Former Valley Christian High School Employee Faces Federal Charges for Child Exploitation and Pornography

Published on: October 24, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Former Valley Christian High School employee Todd Baldwin is facing federal charges for allegedly soliciting and distributing explicit images of minors. These charges arose from a San Jose Police investigation initiated in August 2023, during which Baldwin was arrested. He confessed to receiving pornographic images from several boys in exchange for money. Due to the severity and federal implications of the crimes, which involved child exploitation and the online distribution of child pornography, the case was escalated to federal authorities, resulting in FBI involvement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Harris has filed two counts of “enticement of a minor” against Baldwin. These charges are based on testimonies from two minors and supporting online evidence. FBI Special Agent Colleen Dettling outlined the allegations in the federal complaint, stating that Baldwin allegedly offered a 17-year-old former teaching assistant a job in return for explicit images and videos, intending to sell them on Reddit and share the profits. Investigators found evidence supporting these claims, including records of financial transactions.

Additionally, a second minor, aged 16 and attending Live Oak High School, reportedly sent explicit images to Baldwin in exchange for payment. During an interview with police in August 2023, Baldwin admitted to receiving explicit images from multiple minors.

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