The survivor, identified in legal filings as Jane Doe, was a fifteen-year-old freshman during the 2002–2003 school year when she was targeted by her teacher, Shawn Thomas. The lawsuit detailed a calculated process of grooming that led to numerous sexual assaults, many of which occurred on school grounds.

According to the complaint, Thomas utilized his position of authority to isolate the student, frequently assaulting her in his portable classroom and a storage room located within the boys’ locker room. The abuse eventually resulted in Doe becoming pregnant at age 15. The lawsuit further alleges that Thomas pressured and forced the minor to undergo an abortion in the spring of 2003.

Central to the $5.75 million settlement is the disturbing allegation that the school’s administration was aware of the inappropriate relationship but failed to intervene. The lawsuit highlights a specific incident where Thomas’s wife, Sarah Thomas, who served as the Dean of Leigh High School at the time, allegedly discovered the victim alone with her husband in his classroom. The pair had reportedly stopped their sexual encounter abruptly as they saw her approaching.

Even more distressing are the claims regarding Jane Doe’s attempts to seek help. After becoming pregnant, Doe allegedly disclosed to Sarah Thomas that Shawn Thomas had been having sexual intercourse with her. Rather than fulfilling her duty as a mandatory reporter and school administrator, Sarah Thomas allegedly responded by blaming the victim. The lawsuit claims the Dean asked the young student how she “could do this to her” after everything she had done for the student.

Following this confrontation, the abuse did not stop. Shawn Thomas reportedly continued to sexually assault the victim on school property, including the aforementioned storage room incidents.

The abuse remained hidden for years until the survivor’s sister urged her to come forward to law enforcement. Shawn Thomas was finally arrested last year following a formal disclosure of the rapes.

In a statement regarding the settlement, the survivor’s sister noted that while financial compensation cannot undo the trauma, it represents a vital step toward accountability. “This settlement is one more step toward my sister reclaiming her life after the immense harm she endured,” she stated. She expressed hope that this legal resolution ensures no other student is “ignored or unprotected in the way she was.”

The size of the settlement reflects the severity of the institutional failures at Leigh High School. By failing to investigate clear red flags and allegedly allowing a high-ranking administrator to silence a victim, the district left a minor in a position of extreme vulnerability.

The resolution of this case underscores the ongoing legal shift toward holding educational institutions responsible for historical abuse, particularly when administrative negligence allowed predators to operate with impunity.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a young athlete identified as John Doe, who joined the program in April 2021 at eleven years old. The complaint described repeated sexual abuse by former coach Kevin Whitmer. According to the filing, Whitmer engaged in grooming behavior that escalated over time into explicit sexual acts.

The complaint alleged Whitmer instructed the child to sit on his lap and engage in inappropriate physical contact. These interactions reportedly included intimate touching disguised as “massages.” The alleged abuse later escalated into sexual acts that occurred in private locker room settings within team facilities.

A central claim in the lawsuit focused on institutional failure by Sharks Sports & Entertainment, LLC and its subsidiary Sharks Ice, LLC. The complaint argued these organizations failed in their duty to protect young athletes. It asserted they allowed unsupervised locker room access and private electronic communication between coaches and minors.

The lawsuit also described repeated warnings that were allegedly ignored by management. A program supervisor reportedly notified leadership multiple times about Whitmer violating locker room policies. Despite these alerts, no effective corrective action was taken, and enforcement of safety protocols remained inadequate.

The complaint further stated that parents had noticed Whitmer’s unusual conduct around players. Some reportedly observed behavior that made athletes visibly uncomfortable. These concerns, combined with internal warnings, were not addressed in a timely or meaningful way, allowing the alleged abuse to continue unchecked.

The case also pointed to failures in following established safety guidelines set by USA Hockey. These policies are designed to prevent misconduct through supervision requirements and communication restrictions. The lawsuit claimed that these standards were not properly enforced within the organization.

Sharks Sports & Entertainment owns the NHL’s San Jose Sharks and operates several sports facilities in the region. The settlement highlights the importance of strict oversight in youth sports organizations. It also emphasizes the need for consistent enforcement of athlete protection policies.

This case reflects the lasting consequences of institutional negligence and the vulnerability of young athletes. It serves as a reminder that safeguarding measures must be actively implemented, not merely established on paper, to prevent harm and protect participants.

According to the lawsuit, Wilson used his position as head of the school’s broadcast group to isolate the young student in a locked, windowless, soundproof room on school grounds, where the abuse took place. All incidents occurred while both the teacher and student were under the supervision of the school district. The lawsuit alleges the District failed to properly monitor Wilson, allowing his predatory behavior to continue unchecked for years.

Attorney Lauren Cerri, representing the victim, called the $6 million settlement a powerful warning to parents, educators, and school officials about the hidden dangers of trusted educators who conceal their abuse behind a facade of mentorship. She emphasized the importance of vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard children, especially as students return to classrooms each new school year.

The investigation revealed troubling details beyond the sexual abuse. In February 2020, fifth-grade students reported Wilson’s verbal and emotional abuse, including racist slurs, name-calling, and inappropriate conduct such as spraying students with water. Despite repeated complaints and a district reprimand for violating teaching standards, Wilson was not removed from his position.

In 2021, further allegations arose, including use of racist language and offensive behavior, culminating in another district investigation that again found violations of teaching standards but resulted only in a letter of reprimand. This pattern of inadequate oversight is central to the lawsuit’s claim that the district’s negligence enabled Wilson’s “serial predation” on students.

Wilson was arrested in January 2023 and later pled guilty in 2025 to nine counts of lewd acts upon a child, admitting to abusing multiple victims. He was sentenced to 215 years to life in prison. Authorities found videos and evidence of abuse at both the school and Wilson’s home.

The lawsuit also highlights prior warning signs that went unheeded, such as yard duty supervisors noting Wilson’s suspicious behavior with female students during lunch recesses. Despite these red flags, the district failed to take decisive action to protect students.

Attorney Cerri stressed that stronger supervision and accountability by the district could have prevented much of the abuse. She called on other potential victims to come forward, underscoring the broader implications of the case for schools and communities.

This $6 million settlement stands as a stark reminder of the critical need for schools to rigorously screen, supervise, and monitor staff to ensure student safety. It sends a clear message that failure to act on warning signs not only endangers children but also exposes districts to serious legal and financial consequences. Parents, educators, and administrators are urged to maintain heightened awareness and to foster environments where abuse cannot be concealed or tolerated.

The case, emerging nearly 50 years after the alleged abuse, highlights both the enduring impact of childhood trauma and the evolving legal landscape that has enabled survivors to seek justice decades later.

The MVWSD settlement addresses claims by two former Crittenden Middle School students who allege that Myers groomed and sexually assaulted them in the 1970s. The allegations center on Myers’ operation of the Traveling School Summer Program, a six-week initiative targeting students with behavioral and academic challenges. Described as a “school on wheels,” the program incorporated controversial elements, including “Body Theme Days” where students were required to wear minimal clothing, such as bikinis or speedos, and participate in massage sessions led by Myers.

Depositions from the lawsuit revealed a shocking lack of oversight: no policies governed teacher-student interactions, background checks were not conducted, and the district failed to supervise the program adequately.

The MVWSD settlement is part of a larger legal reckoning involving Myers, whose actions extended beyond Mountain View. The case parallels a 2024 settlement by SCCS, where similar allegations surfaced, pointing to a pattern of abuse across multiple school districts.

The Santa Cruz City Schools Lawsuit and Settlement

In 2024, Santa Cruz City Schools settled for $4.5 million with two former students who alleged abuse by Myers between 1987 and 1991, during his tenure as principal of Branciforte Junior High School from 1981 to 1984. The plaintiffs claimed Myers used his authority to perpetrate sexual abuse, exploiting the same Traveling School Summer Program he had run at Crittenden. The program, later integrated into the SCCS curriculum, targeted vulnerable students, many from unstable home environments, and included questionable practices, such as massage classes and “body discovery” objectives.

One plaintiff, identified as John Doe 4, was a gifted athlete in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program whose life was derailed by the abuse. His dreams of college and sports crumbled, leading to struggles with depression, drug addiction, and a sense of indifference toward his own survival. The SCCS lawsuit revealed that the district failed to conduct background checks or evaluate Myers during his employment, despite earlier red flags from his time at Crittenden. The lack of oversight allowed Myers to continue his predatory behavior unchecked, with no rules governing inappropriate teacher-student interactions, such as sharing rooms on trips or conducting massages.

The SCCS settlement, like the MVWSD case, exposed systemic failures in school administration during the 1970s and 1980s, raising questions about how such misconduct went unaddressed for so long. Both settlements reflect a growing recognition of the need for accountability in educational institutions, particularly for historical abuses that have left lasting scars on survivors.

Why the Lawsuit Took 50 Years

The MVWSD lawsuit, filed nearly 50 years after the alleged abuse, was made possible by significant changes in California law that have expanded victims’ rights. In 1973, when the alleged abuses at Crittenden occurred, California’s legal framework posed significant barriers for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Additionally, plaintiffs had to file a government tort claim against a public entity like a school district within 100 days of the incident (Government Code § 911.2). These strict deadlines, combined with the absence of a “delayed discovery” rule for childhood sexual abuse, made it nearly impossible for survivors to pursue legal action if they did not report the abuse immediately.

Many survivors, including those in the MVWSD and SCCS cases, repressed their trauma or feared disbelief, further delaying legal action. The lack of robust mandatory reporting laws (the modern Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act was not fully developed until later) meant schools often failed to act on warning signs, and abusers like Myers avoided scrutiny.

The passage of the California Child Victims Act (AB 218) in 2020 was a game-changer. Effective January 1, 2020, AB 218 eliminated the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims filed on or after January 1, 2024, and opened a three-year lookback window (2020–2022) for survivors to file claims for older abuses, regardless of expired deadlines. This legal reform allowed the MVWSD and SCCS plaintiffs to bring their cases decades later, seeking justice for harm suffered in the 1970s and 1980s. The extended statutes of limitations and revival window were critical in enabling survivors to confront the long-term impact of their trauma, which often manifests years later in the form of mental health challenges, addiction, or broken relationships.

Myers resigned from SCCS in 1991 amid concerns but faced no criminal prosecution due to statutes of limitations and jurisdictional issues. His teaching credentials were revoked in California and Colorado after reports of sexual misconduct surfaced. Allegations against him are extensive: at least 11 men have reported sexual abuse, and over 20 men and boys have described unwanted or abusive sexual experiences during their minor years. These claims span multiple locations, including Mountain View, Santa Cruz, and Denver.

These cases highlight the importance of modern safeguards, such as mandatory background checks, robust reporting laws, and trauma-informed support for survivors. For survivors, these settlements offer a measure of closure, though the scars of abuse endure.

The plaintiffs, both minors at San Ramon Valley High School during the period of abuse, accused Weible of exploiting his authority to groom and sexually abuse them over several years. The abuse took place in various locations, including school grounds, Weible’s vehicle, his apartment, and during a school-sponsored senior trip to New York City. The lawsuit, filed in February 2024, highlighted the district’s negligence in addressing clear warning signs of Weible’s misconduct.

Attorney Lauren Cerri, representing the plaintiffs, criticized SRVUSD’s response, stating, “The district ignored obvious indicators of inappropriate conduct, failing to intervene, investigate, or report suspicions to authorities. They neglected disciplinary procedures and failed to train staff adequately to recognize grooming and abuse, allowing Weible’s actions to continue unchecked.” Cerri also noted that the district permitted Weible to resign quietly without reporting him to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing or fully cooperating with police, withholding critical information.

One plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, expressed deep frustration with SRVUSD’s handling of the situation. “The district prioritized its reputation over student safety, enabling Weible to endanger multiple students,” she said. “Parents should trust that schools protect their children and follow proper policies, but SRVUSD failed. Instead of taking accountability to prevent future abuse, they shielded a predator to protect themselves. This behavior is unacceptable, and we must remain vigilant to ensure student safety.”

The lawsuit detailed Weible’s predatory behavior, which was reportedly overt and noticeable to both staff and students. Actions such as showing favoritism, engaging in excessive physical contact like prolonged hugs or having students sit on his lap, and spending private time with female students behind closed doors were cited as red flags. Despite these warning signs, the district allegedly took no meaningful action until 2012, after both plaintiffs had graduated.

The core of the case rested on SRVUSD’s alleged gross negligence in fulfilling its duty to supervise and protect students from foreseeable harm. The plaintiffs argued that the district’s inaction breached its responsibility to ensure a safe learning environment, allowing Weible’s abuse to persist. The settlement, just $100 short of $7 million, underscores the severity of the district’s failures and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of mishandling abuse allegations.

This resolution, reached weeks before a scheduled jury trial on September 15, 2025, highlights the need for systemic change in how schools address allegations of misconduct. The case emphasizes the importance of robust policies, clear accountability, and comprehensive staff training to identify and respond to grooming and abuse. A school culture that encourages reporting and prioritizes student safety is critical to preventing future harm.

The settlement also sends a broader message to educational institutions about the legal and moral obligations to protect students. As Jane Doe stated, “I know I’m not the first, and sadly not the last, but we must keep fighting for safer schools.” The nearly $7 million payout reflects not only the harm caused to the plaintiffs but also the urgent need for districts to take proactive measures to safeguard students and address misconduct promptly.

The case underscores the ongoing challenges schools face in ensuring student safety and the consequences of failing to act decisively.

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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”.

John Doe did not disclose the abuse until 2008, when he began seeking therapy to address its impact. “Given the effect this has had on my life, I wish I could go back in time and have forced the school district to prevent my abuse from happening in the first place,” Doe said in a statement.

Edelman continued to work for SFUSD after his time at Lowell, teaching at the Academy of Arts and Sciences until his resignation in September 2013. In 2014, Edelman was arrested in a sting operation by Mountain View police, who posed as a 17-year-old boy online.

This settlement comes amid broader scrutiny of SFUSD’s handling of sexual abuse cases. Earlier last year, attorney Lauren Cerri settled two additional sexual abuse cases against the District for $4.5 million, involving former George Washington High School athletic director Lawrence Young-Yet Chan.

Attorney Cerri emphasized the importance of accountability: “We hope that by bringing attention to the harm suffered years ago by victims of childhood sexual abuse, school districts throughout California will recognize the life-long harm they inflict when they choose to protect educators and the district’s reputation over the safety of students”.

John Doe echoed this sentiment, expressing disappointment that the district relies on liability insurance to resolve such cases rather than focusing on prevention. Still, he voiced hope, inspired by current Lowell students who have spoken out and organized for change, including #MeToo walkouts. “Their activism shows the power of collective action to demand accountability and work toward a safer environment for everyone. Thank you for your voices. We were never alone,” Doe said.

More on this development at:

SFUSD reaches $1.5M settlement in sex abuse lawsuit involving former counselor

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.”

Two other victims, identified as Doe 2 and Doe 3, alleged they were sexually assaulted by Burgos during the 2000-2001 school year under the pretense of “body fat tests.” Both men will receive $750,000 each as part of the settlement (Marin County Superior Court, Case No. CIV2204358).

“Thank you for all you have done for me, I will appreciate it for the rest of my life. You both put on an amazing trial and I know doing so required not only tremendous skill, but most of all, intense preparation and hard work. Holding those accountable who were responsible for my abuse has both empowered me and helped me heal.” A.H.

Burgos’ abuse often involved taking students into private settings under false pretenses, such as conducting body fat tests or fitness evaluations. Instead of performing legitimate tests in public areas, Burgos would isolate students in his office, have them lie on a massage table, remove their clothing, and then sexually assault them.

“The district’s failure to protect these students is indefensible,” said attorney Robert Allard. “This case serves as a stark reminder that safeguarding students must always take precedence over protecting teachers or coaches.”

The lawsuits also highlight the devastating and long-lasting effects of sexual abuse on survivors. Many victims testified about years of trauma, including struggles with substance abuse, damaged relationships, and feelings of shame and low self-esteem. “These men have endured life-altering pain,” Boskovich said. “Some contemplated suicide; others turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with their suffering.”

Normandie Burgos was finally brought to justice in 2019 when he was criminally convicted of 60 counts of sexual abuse involving multiple victims. He is currently serving a 255-year prison sentence.

This settlement underscores systemic failures within the school district to address early warning signs about Burgos’ behavior and prevent further harm to students. It also serves as a call for stronger protections and accountability measures in schools statewide to ensure student safety.

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.

One of the plaintiffs, John Roe 3, expressed hope that this settlement would serve as a wake-up call for SCCS to implement stronger protections for students. “This lawsuit could have been easily avoided if Santa Cruz City Schools had safety measures and oversight in place,” he stated. John Roe 4 shared how the abuse profoundly impacted his life, leading to struggles with boundaries and substance abuse as he coped with decades of secrecy. “When secrets are told, they lose their power,” he said, emphasizing the importance of speaking out for healing and closure.

Attorney Lauren Cerri highlighted the significance of this case despite the decades that have passed since the abuse occurred. “The fact that it happened so long ago doesn’t mean it’s OK or that they can get away with it,” she said. She hopes this resolution provides validation and closure for her clients while underscoring systemic failures in safeguarding children.

Testimonies during the case revealed that no policies or training existed at the time regarding Myers’ behavior or interactions with students. Leaders of the Traveling School admitted there was no district oversight during trips or at Myers’ home visits with students. Additionally, SCCS employees reportedly ignored warnings about Myers’ inappropriate behavior dating back to his tenure at Crittenden Middle School in Mountain View during the 1970s.

Myers resigned from SCCS in 1991 amid growing concerns but has never faced criminal prosecution due to statutes of limitations. His teaching credentials were later revoked in California and Colorado for sexual misconduct. Attorney Lauren Cerri is also representing two former Crittenden Middle School students who allege similar abuse by Myers in the 1970s; their case is set to go to trial next summer.

This settlement underscores both past institutional failures and the ongoing need for robust safeguards to protect students from abuse within educational systems.

For more on this case, please read:

Santa Cruz Lookout San Jose Mercury News

The settlement with the Berryessa Union School District was announced Tuesday by the San Jose-based law firm Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, which secured the payout on behalf of three students. Two of them testified in the prosecution of Ronald Dean Gardner, who was sentenced in December to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a total of four students.

Gardner taught at the school more than two decades ago and was plagued by allegations of inappropriate conduct with students. He was allowed to resign after a police investigation at the time failed to yield any criminal charges against him. In 2021, students came forward again with abuse allegations after Assembly Bill 218, which was in effect from 2020 to 2022, granted a one-time extension of the statute of limitations.

The lawsuit alleged that the district and school officials allowed Gardner to continue teaching and supervising students for years in the face of misconduct claims. The plaintiffs also contended the district kept him employed with an emergency teaching credential that was renewed each year, and failed to give him the additional supervision required for someone in those circumstances.

“How does somebody remain a teacher for that long, year after year after year? It’s almost as if they were bending over backwards to keep him,” plaintiff’s attorney Lauren Cerri said. “He was reprimanded but they still allowed him to stay instead of hiring a credentialed teacher.”

“They could have gotten rid of him for any reason, but instead they chose to keep him despite the complaints, despite the red flags,” Cerri added, referring to the district’s wide authority to terminate Gardner because of his non-tenured status. “And after the complaints, you would think they would have eyes all over him.”

One of the victims who sued, referred to in the lawsuit as John Doe 1, said “this experience has been extremely difficult, forced me to relive my trauma and taken years of my life away.”

“The compensation I’ve received, in my opinion, is a moot point. There is no amount of money that will make up for abuse I endured and how that changed the trajectory of my life,” he said in a statement provided by the law firm. “If I’ve learned anything it’s that this is yet another example of our governmental institutions failing to protect kids and more evidence of our justice system skewed against victims.”

Another plaintiff, named John Doe 3 in the lawsuit, said in a statement: “After over two decades of suffering in silence, I feel like I’ve reached a level of vindication. Although I have a lot of work left ahead in order to heal, I feel like I have been given back the control I lost as a young child.”

Gardner was hired at Sierramont in 1996; he taught science and also coached the track team and advised the chess club at the school.

When Gardner was arrested in April 2021, San Jose police cited a 2003 police report in which a student alerted the school to being the subject of inappropriate touching and sexually explicit and aggressive language from Gardner. The recently settled lawsuit offered corroborating details, stating that Gardner was once reprimanded after a parent complained about him making sexual innuendos to students and contends a teacher later claimed to have witnessed him kiss a student on the cheek.

No charges resulted from the 2003 investigation, and Gardner resigned from the school soon after. He returned to police suspicion in February 2021 when one of the reported victims contacted the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office to report his past abuse, and the case was transferred to San Jose police. As the investigation continued and after Gardner was initially criminally charged, more people came forward with similar allegations.

In the lawsuit, John Doe 1 provided a particularly troubling anecdote about Gardner, claiming that the teacher was nearly caught while engaging in a sex act with him. He described how a janitor was about to enter Gardner’s classroom after school, and that Gardner “scrambled to pull up his pants” before the janitor walked in.

Doe claimed in the suit that the janitor saw Doe and Gardner alone in the classroom, but did not report the encounter. The result, Doe alleged, was that Gardner started blocking his door with a couch and posted a note warning people not to open the door or risk one of his classroom lizards or birds getting out.

According to the lawsuit, the abuse reportedly occurred on the school campus during school hours, in locations like Chan’s office, a locker room, and a stairwell. “School districts have a duty to protect their students and are required to take all reasonable steps to ensure their safety,” attorney Lauren Cerri said.

The SFUSD board of trustees approved the settlement amount following agreements between the insurance carriers, the survivors, and the district. The settlement was reached to spare the survivors from having to retell their stories and to allow them to move forward and start rebuilding their lives.

News Coverage of the Settlement

• San Francisco Unified School District Settles $4.5 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Assaults By Former Athletic Director
• SFUSD settles $4.5M lawsuit over alleged sexual assaults by former athletic director
• San Francisco Unified School District Settles $4.5 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Assaults By Former Athletic Director

This case highlights concerns about how educational institutions handle allegations of sexual misconduct and the potential risks of allowing accused individuals to quietly resign without facing appropriate consequences.

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has been sued multiple times for cases of sexual abuse. The lawsuits against SFUSD include instances of alleged abuse dating as far back as 1962 and as recent as 2017.

The Impact of Sexual Abuse on Students

The impact of sexual abuse on high school students can be profound, affecting various aspects of their lives:

1. Academic Performance: Sexual abuse has been linked to higher incidences of depression, anxiety, PTSD, low self-esteem, behavioral disorders, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation, all of which can significantly impact a student’s academic performance.

2. Social Skills: Victims of sexual abuse may experience difficulties in developing and maintaining healthy relationships with peers due to the emotional and psychological effects of the abuse.

3. Emotional Well-being: Students who have been sexually abused may exhibit a range of emotional reactions such as anger, anxiety, depression, and withdrawal behavior, which can affect their overall emotional well-being and ability to cope with daily challenges.

4. Behavioral Issues: Sexual abuse can lead to behavioral changes in students, including poor decision-making, mood swings, and engaging in risky behaviors like substance abuse or early sexual activity.

5. Long-term Consequences: Child sexual abuse can have lasting effects on physical and mental health, leading to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and difficulties in forming trusting relationships with adults.

Understanding the multifaceted impact of sexual abuse on high school students is essential for schools to provide appropriate support and interventions to help these students recover and thrive academically and emotionally.

News Coverage of This Case

• The San Francisco Standard: They were accused of sexual misconduct. SF Schools let them quietly resign.
• San Francisco Chronicle: New sexual assault accusation is made against SFUSD athletic director, who was allowed to quietly resign
• KRON 4: Lawsuit against SFUSD alleges George Washington HS athletic director sexually abused student

SFUSD is facing another sexual abuse lawsuit by the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard involving former Lowell High School teacher Harlan Edelman. He is accused of sexually abusing a student during the 2004-2005 school year. These lawsuits highlight the district’s alleged failure to properly supervise and address instances of sexual abuse, prompting legal actions by survivors and their legal representatives.

These lawsuits underscore the importance of schools prioritizing student protection over other considerations and implementing robust measures to prevent and address instances of sexual abuse within educational institutions. If you or a loved one have been sexually abused by a teacher, contact our legal team for assistance.

The sexual abuse lawsuit, CV No. 21CV388845, was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court by attorneys for San Jose-based Cerri, Boskovich & Allard.

John Doe, 13, was sexually assaulted in early 2020; he will receive $900,000. John Doe 2, 23, was sexually abused in 2008-2009 and will receive $4.2 million.

“John Doe 2 was so ashamed and disgusted by the abuse that he took a cup of scalding hot water and purposely poured it onto his penis in an attempt to genitally mutilate himself,” the lawsuit says.

“John Doe 2’s abuse was so horrific that he’s still suffering from what happened to him when he was a little boy,” attorney Mark Boskovich said. “He can use this settlement to get the help he needs since he continues to suffer from anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation.”

Houg was sentenced in November 2021 to 35 years in prison for molesting ten former Blossom Hill students, including Doe 2. In Doe 2’s case, Houg was convicted of three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child by force, duress, menace or fear.

Parents also accused Houg of verbally abusing students.

“The school district failed to discipline Houg or supervise him more closely after multiple verbal abuse and sexual harassment complaints and this settlement acknowledges that fact,” Boskovich said. “We uncovered evidence of at least eleven complaints that were brought to the school’s attention between 2001 and 2020. This was unprecedented. The school administrators involved in these complaints failed to protect these kids. Had the District documented and investigated the early complaints and properly supervised Houg, many kids would have been spared.”

The cost of not following the law is steep: the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District recently agreed to pay $3.485 million to a former Los Gatos student who was sexually abused by her track coach; a jury ordered San Jose’s Union School District to pay two abused female students $102.5 million, with the district settling another sexual abuse case involving five men now in their fifties for $7.5 million; and the Tamalpais Union High School District in Marin County paid $10 million to a male student who was abused by his tennis coach.

“One of the reasons there are so many cases involving schools is because pedophiles go where the kids are,” Boskovich said. “It’s imperative schools understand they can’t protect teachers who are hurting kids. My colleagues and I are determined to end this cycle of placing the image and reputation of the school over the safety of children.”

Boskovich is also calling on the school district to “look at the administrators who failed to take action against Houg and make sure they are held accountable for their actions.”

The other plaintiff in the Houg case, John Doe, was abused in January 2020 when he was 10 years old during a dress rehearsal for a school play production.

Houg’s downfall came during the pandemic when he asked two 13-year-old boys to engage in inappropriate conduct during separate videoconferences.

The boys reported Houg and he was arrested in September 2020 by Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies; he was suspended without pay by the school district shortly thereafter.

Beginning in 1999, student “Jane Doe” was abused by Los Gatos High School Assistant Track Coach Chioke Robinson, who began grooming her to accept his sexual advances when she was a 14-year-old freshman. The grooming escalated, and Robinson began having intercourse with Jane when she was 15.

Jane’s settlement was negotiated by Cerri, Boskovich & Allard attorney Lauren Cerri.

“This tragedy never should have happened,” Cerri said. “Another young female track athlete testified that she told head coach Willie Harmatz in 1998 that she was uncomfortable around Robinson. That girl’s complaints fell on deaf ears. All Harmatz did in response was tell the girl to run on the other side of the track away from where Robinson was training the girls’ track team.”

In late 1999, Jane’s mother found a discarded pregnancy test in her wastebasket, along with a love letter from Robinson. Administrators at the high school including Principal Trudy McCulloch and Coach Willie Harmatz were informed.

“When another student disclosed that she had seen Robinson abusing Jane, Harmatz went to the girl’s house and threatened to ruin her athletic career if she didn’t stop ‘lying’ about Robinson, according to sworn testimony from the student,” Cerri said. “Harmatz should have taken steps to protect this student but he instead covered up the brewing scandal.”

Robinson was never disciplined; he was finally fired in March 2001.

“Even after other students told the school they had seen Robinson kissing me and engaging in sexual acts with me, the school allowed him to continue coaching,” Jane said. “They cared more about the track team winning than protecting students.”

And make no mistake – Jane was a winner from a very young age: She participated in the Junior Olympics and broke all the records in the high jump for her age group. By the time she was 11 years old, Jane was the second-best high jumper in the state.

But her dreams of becoming an Olympian were shattered by the abuse that was enabled by the school district.

“I was a popular kid in high school,” Jane said. “I had a lot of friends but Robinson took control of my life by alienating me from my family and friends. It happened very quickly – everyone you know becomes a stranger because you’re no longer a part of them and they’re no longer a part of you. So then it was just him.”

Robinson’s hold on Jane continued until she was 21.

Robinson was finally arrested in February 2019 by the San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and charged with 19 counts of sexually assaulting numerous girls, including Jane Doe. Robinson’s trial is set for Nov. 7.

Although Jane Doe’s sexual abuse occurred in the late ’90s, she was able to sue the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District because of Assembly Bill 218, which extends the California statute of limitations and allows older sexual abuse claims to be litigated through December 2022.

The West Valley- Mission Community College District will pay a disabled rape victim $7.6 million as a result of a lawsuit filed by the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard.

The lawsuit filed in 2020 alleged that district officials failed to protect a now 26-year-old developmentally disabled woman from a known sexual predator.

The alleged predator, Raymond Ruiz, was an instructional aide in the Program for Students with Developmental Disabilities that holds classes at Mission College in Santa Clara.

“In our investigation, we discovered that Raymond Ruiz had sexually assaulted one student and physically assaulted another,” attorney Mark Boskovich said. “However, Ruiz’s wife was a co-director of the developmentally disabled program and covered up his behavior as did other District employees who were aware of Ruiz’s inappropriate sexual misconduct.”

The victim in this case was born with severe cerebral palsy and legal blindness. She has the intelligence of a 13-year-old and is permanently relegated to a wheelchair. Her mother enrolled her in the district program in the summer of 2018.

“The first sexual assault happened on campus in mid-May of 2020 when Ruiz administered alcohol to the young girl in the classroom then took her to an on-campus bathroom where he raped her,” Boskovich said. “The next day, he sexually assaulted her again.”

“We hope that through this lawsuit, the community college district will properly supervise employees in the future and implement programs and procedures for the safe education of students with developmental disabilities,” attorney Robert Allard said.

Research indicates that people with disabilities are sexually assaulted at nearly three times the rate of people without disabilities and 83% of women with disabilities will be sexually assaulted in their lives.

The school district has sought to overturn the verdict.

“It’s a high number but we’ve shown the court the verdict is justified,” attorney Lauren Cerri said. Ms. Cerri, from San Jose-based Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, represented one of the two women in the case.

“We know that school officials negligently supervised and retained Neipp, and failed to prevent the abuse from occurring,” Ms. Cerri said. “Before his arrest, neither of these two young women came forward and told their parents or told the school what was happening to them. There is no evidence that this school knew that this teacher was sexually abusing these students. But what did they know?”

A timeline developed for the trial shows they knew Neipp was a sexual predator at least as far back as 2010, when a parent complained to Dartmouth’s principal and the Union School District’s superintendent about Neipp exchanging inappropriate text messages with her daughter.

Ms. Cerri said, “one of the big issues in my case was the fact that this teacher was an at-will employee for several years while complaints were coming in against him. So, they could have gotten rid of him for no reason, any reason, but instead they granted him tenure.”

Neipp was reprimanded in January 2013, when yet another parent complained about him.

“So, what do they do? Do they fire him? Do they call the police? Do they have extra eyes on him, do they send out a letter to the parents saying don’t allow text messaging and all the things they’re doing? No. In 2013, they award him Teacher of the Year.”

Ms. Cerri said that while parents’ complaints were swept under the rug, “the information the school was giving to the students and the parents was how great this guy was – we grant him tenure, we’re giving him awards…”

Ms. Cerri said, too, that the case as a “common-sense case” and cited the fact that the ongoing abuse occurred on school grounds

“They failed to supervise this teacher,” she said. “If they had acted reasonably and responded to the complaints, my client would have never met Neipp.”

Ms. Cerri’s client was awarded $65 million of the $102.5 million jury verdict by a San Jose jury.

“In my closing I asked for a million dollars a year for every year from when she was 13 until the rest of her life and she has another 60-plus years to live,” Ms. Cerri said. “My client’s life was shattered by this. The fact that she was held emotionally captive led to one expert testifying that she’s one of the most damaged victims he’s ever seen.”

Neipp, meantime, is spending the rest of his life behind bars. In 2019, he was criminally convicted of sexually abusing the two female students and sentenced to over 50 years in prison. Read more in the San Jose Mercury News.

The student, Alexander Harrison, is now 36 years old.

His lawsuit against the Tamalpais Union High School District was filed in March 2020 by the San Jose-based law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard under the auspices of AB 218, which extends the statute of limitations to allow older child sexual abuse cases to be filed through December 2022.

Mr. Harrison is deeply thankful to the jury and felt the verdict was emotionally healing.

“After having been so hurt by so many in my own community siding against me when I first reported Burgos’ sexual abuse, this jury’s recognition of the wrong that Burgos and the school district did to me has an impact on me that is beyond words and will allow me to finally move forward.”

Mr. Harrison hopes this verdict will impact schools, so that they always put kids’ safety first when there is sexual misconduct by an educator.

“I want this verdict to change how schools respond to these abusive situations – too many educators have inappropriately touched students yet they’ve been permitted to continue teaching, while student complaints were kept secret,” Mr. Harrison said. “The jury spoke loud and clear that schools need to better protect the students in their care.

Attorney Mark Boskovich said the verdict was a long time coming.

“Police told school officials about Burgos’s sexual misconduct in late 2002, when a wrestler complained that Burgos had touched his genitals during a body fat test,” Mr. Boskovich said. “The district mishandled that complaint and continued to provide Burgos with unsupervised access to students by concealing the complaint from key school employees.”

The jury agreed.

Some of the trial testimony focused on a pledge by then- Tamalpais High School Principal Chris Holleran to develop protocols for body fat testing. But Holleran didn’t follow through, with a school district expert testifying that Holleran’s lack of action was not within the established standards of care.

“If the district had a zero-tolerance policy regarding teacher sexual abuse, Burgos would have been outed in 2002 and Mr. Harrison’s abuse would have stopped,” attorney Robert Allard said. “But the district buried its head in the sand.”

Students, meantime, continued to complain about Burgos’ abuse until he was arrested in August 2006, when Mr. Harrison came forward. The trial ended in a hung jury in favor of conviction.

The Tamalpais Union High School District finally fired Burgos in 2008 and he lost his California teaching credential. So, Burgos opened a tennis clinic, where he continued to sexually molest children.

“Burgos is truly a dangerous serial predator who harmed many children,” Mr. Allard said. “For example, Mr. Harrison suffered a loss of self-worth and 20 years later he still has trouble trusting people. But he’s become a warrior who is fighting to protect other children from abusers.”

Burgos was finally brought to justice in 2019, when he was criminally convicted of 60 counts of sexual abuse. He is now serving a 255-year prison sentence.

About Cerri, Boskovich & Allard

The attorneys at Cerri, Boskovich & Allard have a national reputation and a proven record of helping survivors and their families recover from childhood sexual abuse. The firm’s $65 million jury verdict in a sexual abuse case against a public school is believed to be the largest single plaintiff verdict ever in California and the United States.

To learn more about the Harrison case, read the New York Times article.

When Dennis Thomas started teaching at Cinnabar Elementary School in San Jose, it wasn’t long before school officials became aware that he was befriending young boys and taking them to his home or to places like the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz.

One time he even took a student on a Mexican cruise and he often sexually abused students at school – making boys sit on his lap, and inappropriately rubbing and touching them.

It was the late 1970s and early ’80s, and Thomas was teaching fourth and fifth grades.

Usually, cases that old fall by the wayside because the statute of limitations expired years ago. But in 2019 the California legislature passed AB 218, which gives sexual abuse victims until Dec. 31, 2022 to file claims against their abusers and/or the institutions that allowed the abuse to happen.

And that’s exactly what happened in the Dennis Thomas case: five men who were abused as boys hired the sexual abuse legal team at the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard to end this sordid chapter of their lives.

Attorneys Lauren Cerri and Robert Allard represented the men in the lawsuit and negotiated the $7.5 million settlement on their behalf.

“AB 218 allowed us to help these men achieve justice against a serial predator and the school district that enabled him,” attorney Robert Allard said.

“Cinnabar elementary’s principal acknowledged in a 1975 evaluation that Thomas was spending time with young boys on weekends,” attorney Lauren Cerri said. “He’d sometimes take them to his apartment but he often took them to the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz. One time he even took a student on a Mexican cruise.”

The principal began receiving complaints about Thomas playing with “kids’ bods” and having oral sex with them in the late ’70s.

Decades passed and by the time former San Jose police sexual abuse investigator Mike Leininger got involved, the boys’ were grown men.

“What happened left them with a lifetime of pain,” Leininger said. “It not only affected them but their relationships with others for decades. Some of the men had tremendous difficulty talking about being molested – one broke down crying and shaking in my arms.”

When Leininger interviewed Thomas, the serial predator – who admitted to having relationships with as many as 40 boys – showed no remorse.

“He told me he didn’t understand why the five victims were planning to sue the school district because ‘he got over it and they should, too. It’s not my problem.’ So, he doesn’t think he did anything wrong,” Leininger said. “I also interviewed several Cinnabar principals who didn’t see anything wrong with Thomas taking 10-year-old boys on unchaperoned overnight trips.”

Leininger has investigated approximately 1,000 sexual abuse cases over the years and calls this “one of the three toughest.”

Thomas’s victims have had a tough time, too. One said he became “infuriated” when he learned “there were people who could have stopped this but chose not to,” while another said, “I can finally turn around and tell my 10-year-old self that he’s heard, and I can take his hand without shame and walk forward with him.”

The men had high praise for Allard and his team’s “impressive mix of empathy and professionalism,” with one man wishing them “all the best in continuing your efforts on behalf of children who need and deserve a voice like yours.”

Mr. Allard has been representing sexual abuse survivors for more than 20 years.

He said the fact that school officials condoned Thomas’s behavior shows extreme negligence.

“Thomas is a devious narcissist,” Allard said. “His criminal acts were allowed because he groomed students, parents and school officials – making them think he was a good guy when, in fact, he’s a monster.”

Thomas was arrested by San Jose police in August 1981 and was admitted to Atascadero State Hospital in April 1982 as a mentally disordered sex offender. He was released to outpatient treatment in April 1984.

Mr. Allard says this case demonstrates why important for victims to come forward – no matter how much time has elapsed.

“All of these men have been diagnosed with PTSD. One man buried his secret for 40 years and suffers from ongoing emotional issues. He’s angry, has mood swings, flashbacks and problems with addiction,” Mr. Allard. “Another turned to excessive drinking and drug abuse in his early teens, and feels ashamed, wondering how he allowed this to happen?”

The men also have trust issues and will continue to face hurdles for years to come. Of course, all of this could have been prevented if the Union School District and its employees had put the safety of children first, Mr. Allard concluded.

To learn more about the work Cerri, Boskovich & Allard is doing, call 408-289-1417 or visit https://www.cbalawfirm.com/

The day Allison Brown told police she had been sexually abused by her former basketball coach was life-changing for both her and Greg Marshall: he is now serving a 6-plus year sentence for repeatedly abusing Allison and she is working to recover from his abuse.

Allison was a student-athlete at Valley Christian High School in San Jose when Marshall began abusing her in the early 2000s.

In 2021, Allison hired Cerri, Boskovich & Allard to represent her in a sexual abuse lawsuit against Valley Christian, saying the school should have protected her from Marshall.

Using the law for accountability

Allison decided to sue her alma mater after she realized “it’s not just putting your hand out and asking for money to help with the damages that I’ve experienced. It’s not about that at all. It’s about holding the institution accountable for their wrongdoing.”

Valley Christian settled Allison’s lawsuit and agreed to make policy changes that she believes will help avoid future sexual abuse problems at the school.

She said, too, that “the lawsuit was a learning experience because I didn’t know the legal system and how things work. So, every time I was receiving information, it was new information and I was trying to understand how it all operates and how it works.”

Allison warns potential litigants not to get bogged down by minutiae.

“The hardest thing is the emotional roller coaster and the ups and downs. One day you might be feeling great and thinking, ‘I’ve got this, I’m on top of the world,’ and then something can hit you and bring a lot of emotions up,” she said. “So, working through those ups and downs and finding a place of grounding for yourself would be the best advice I can give.”

Allison says it “took a while” for her to figure out that she is not a broken person. She is a “whole” person.

“It took time to help me understand that the person that abused me was the adult in the situation,” she said. “And when I was able to accept that and love myself, I was able to break through and not be ashamed of what happened. I was able to talk about it more freely and openly with people, and I was able to work through some tools and exercises with my therapist in order to help me tell my story in my voice and in the way that I needed to tell it.”

Even so, it wasn’t easy.

“The process is not an easy one, the process is hard, it can take a while, it can wear on your emotions,” Allison said. “It’s an invasion of privacy when you have to disclose a lot of information about yourself and about your past and your current state of mind. However, the result of providing all that information to people who can help is completely worth it.”

She singled out attorneys Bob Allard and Lauren Cerri, and victim advocate Jancy Thompson, calling them a “Dream Team.”

The Dream Team

Jancy became a victim advocate after coming forward with her story of sexual abuse.

“It absolutely helped me working with Jancy and talking with Jancy and hearing that she has gone through similar emotions to what I was going through,” Allison said. “Jancy had similar fears to what I was experiencing and fears about the process. You know, Jancy made herself available to me throughout the day when moments popped up that that took my focus away. And having an advocate who has been through this process was incredible.”

She had kudos for her attorneys, too.

“You absolutely want Bob on your side – he is a fighter and he cares. He cares about you as an individual. He cares about making a difference in sports systems, school systems, whatever the institution is Bob cares about making a difference. You do not want to be on the other side of the table with Bob,” Allison said. “And Lauren is so approachable and kind. As I mentioned, there were concerns early on in the process that I was very hesitant about. And without having met Lauren in person, she gave me a call. She talked me through what the process would look like and some of my concerns. And Lauren is just brilliant and so loving and kind to work with.”

The team’s communication skills also helped Allison work through her anxiety.

“Having a dream team is what encouraged me to keep pushing forward,” she said. “They were very communicative and it allowed me to understand what was going on and allowed me to put my attention where I needed to in any given moment.”

Allison was worried how the lawsuit might impact her career, fearing she might be judged by her co-workers.

Speaking out

“I disclosed this in confidence to my boss and she responded with so much love,” Allison said. “I think being honest has continued to help me be successful in my job, in my career, in my social life, and with family and friends. I think it was telling my truth, so that people could understand if I was having an off day or, if I didn’t show up, they could understand why.”

Allison is happy with the outcome of her case saying, “I gave it my best. I fought the fight. I voiced my truth and voiced my concerns for children in the school. I stood alongside Bob and Lauren and Jancy, who helped me through this process, and I know they gave it everything they got as well. I trusted that they were guiding me through the best solution and outcome as possible. And I trusted their process.”

In addition to trusting, Allison says sexual abuse survivors who are considering a lawsuit should “follow their heart” and understand their personal limitations.

“We can’t do it all, but we can try to implement change and not let this happen to any child again. That would be my dream,” she said. “But sometimes at the end of the day, you can only do so much or you can only give so much.

Today, Allison says she feels “incredibly proud” for speaking out.

“In my experience and in my abusive past, the power was taken away from me,” she said. “I received my power back going through this process. I received my voice back.”

Sexual predator Normandie Burgos, a once well-respected Northern California tennis coach, is serving a 255-year prison sentence after being found guilty in May 2020 of 60 counts of child molestation.

Some of the charges involved Stevie Gould, who was a 13- year-old tennis player when Burgos began abusing him. The abuse went on for two years.

Stevie is largely responsible for putting Burgos in prison: he secretly recorded the tennis coach admitting to having sex with a child and turned the recording over to police.

Then, Stevie went one step further and filed a civil sexual abuse lawsuit against the United State Tennis Association for allowing Burgos to continue coaching long after the allegations of abuse first surfaced in 2001.

The Burgos Tennis Foundation was a USTA affiliate and Stevie’s lawsuit was settled in 2021.

Stevie described the experience as a “long, arduous process” that was also a “really honorable process.”

“There’s a lot of people who are focused on monetary gain and I didn’t feel that with attorney Bob Allard,” Stevie said. “I felt like their priority, in addition to vindicating me, was to take care of me and to get justice for what was right.”

At first, Stevie was skeptical about filing a civil suit but that feeling disappeared as he worked hand-in-hand with Mr. Allard and victim advocate Jancy Thompson.

“When I met Bob for the first time here in San Francisco, I was extremely hesitant. And then I started actually talking to him and listening to what he had to say. And there’s a genuine aspect to Bob and to Jancy and to the entire law firm that resonated with me,” Stevie said. “It’s a gut feeling. What can’t be understated is how important that is when you’re dealing with something so sensitive and so meaningful to you, and to the person who’s working with you.”

The lawsuit proved to be a true learning experience

“I learned many things about myself, which I didn’t know before. And that’s the most important part of the process – what you learn about who you are, what you stand for and what you want in this world,” he said. “It empowered me to feel like I can speak up even more than I already have to tell my story in the best way that I can, and to know that I can speak to people in all different situations in life and know that I have people behind me, people supporting me that really know how to work and know how to get things right.”

Stevie learned, too, that the sexual abuse he endured will always be a part of his life.

“It’s not something that’s ever finished, ended, accomplished. It’s not something you can defeat, shrug it off and move forward. It’s always going to be a part of you,” Stevie said. “And that’s what I would tell any survivor of sexual abuse that, for better or worse, it is a part of who you are. And the more you can learn to accept it as a part of who you are, and work to make things better to turn such a horrible experience into something that you can use to empower others and empower yourself, learn that you have gained a lot of strength, a lot of integrity through being abused and you understand how to have empathy for others. And instead of trying to escape it, embrace it and use it for the best way you can.”

Stevie believes if you talk about your abuse you create “new opportunities in life that you may not have had before. And that’s something that’s really key to understand.”

Another important lesson he learned is that “sexual abuse does not stop with the victim. I have seen it traumatize my family, my friends, people that I’m not very close to were really, really saddened and affected by this process.”

The lawsuit helped his family to help him

“I know that from my experience and from my family’s experience that they learned a lot about what I went through that they didn’t know before,” he said. “They learned about what happened and they learned about what I was going through day-to-day. They learned how to fight for me instead of giving me pity. And that was something that I couldn’t be more appreciative of – they were able to stand by me instead of feeling like they had to stand for me.”

Perhaps one of the biggest lessons Stevie learned is that he’s just as vulnerable as the next guy. But knowing and believing are sometimes hard to reconcile.

“Everyone is capable of being taken advantage of and it’s not your fault, no matter how much you might think it is,” he said. “That’s something that I will say but will struggle for years and years and years to believe. But doing this is a way to take control back, it’s a way to take your power back.”

Stevie will continue to talk publicly abuse his abuse because he wants to encourage other survivors to come forward. “It just takes one and one leads to one more. We can start a movement – no more sucking it up, taking it and not speaking up. We need to change that.”

The New Haven Unified School District has agreed to pay $2.25 million to three young girls who were sexually abused by their third-grade teacher, Michael William Howey, when they were eight years old. Two of the girls, who were represented by the San Jose law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, will share equally in the settlement with the third girl, who was represented by another law firm.

The first complaint about Howey’s inappropriate behavior came during the 2002-2003 school year when he was teaching at Cesar Chavez Middle School but school officials ignored it.

“They didn’t believe the girl’s story that Howey kept grabbing her thigh and sexually harassing her, so they didn’t even bother to document her complaint,” attorney Lauren Cerri said. “This led to Howey abusing other young girls – abuse that could have been prevented if the school district had followed California’s mandatory reporting laws in the first place.”

Fast forward to 2010-2012 when Howey was teaching kindergarten at Cabello Elementary School. During this timeframe, Howey digitally penetrated a female student several times in the presence of other students and kissed numerous female students on the lips.

Howey then transferred to Alvarado Elementary School, where employees reported his grooming behaviors to school officials.

“The complaints were not documented anywhere in Howey’s file or shared with other administrators. They were again swept under the rug,” attorney Robert Allard said.

In December 2012, a school monitor told Alvarado Principal Tracey Noriega that she was concerned about Howey giving necklaces only to female students. Noriega rationalized that the necklaces were a student incentive and did nothing.

Reports that Howey was hugging and kissing young female students during recess and during an after-school program were likewise ignored by mandatory reporters.

Howey was arrested by Fremont police on May 1, 2013 after a paraeducator witnessed him hugging and kissing a minor female student in his classroom.

“Both of my clients testified during Howey’s preliminary court hearing that he repeatedly kissed them on the cheek and lips in front of other students,” Mr. Allard said. “Not only that, one of the girls testified that Howey touched her private parts while he held her on his lap. This is truly an extraordinary case – employees of the school district knew for years what was going on and continued to ignore the red flags. They could have stopped Howey in his tracks. Their negligence is mind-boggling.”

“Howey is out of prison and has presumably resumed a ‘normal’ life but our clients – his victims – have not,” Mr. Allard said.

“These are life-long impacts that demonstrate why educators have a legal and moral responsibility to protect students,” Mr. Allard said. “The safety of our children demands that we expose these criminals and the people who enabled them.”

Mr. Allard and Ms. Cerri represent an additional young girl suing the school district as a result of sexual abuse by Howey whose case has not yet settled.

Source: See the San Jose Mercury-News article on this case.