Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Emery Unified Following Security Guard Abuse

A new civil lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court has brought disturbing allegations of systemic negligence to light, targeting the Emery Unified School District and former security guard Daniel Parham. The legal action, brought by two former Emery High School students, claims the district failed to protect its students from an alleged predator who operated openly on school grounds during the 2022–2023 school year.

The plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, allege that Parham used his position of authority to groom and sexually exploit them over an extended period. Jane Doe 1 reportedly endured at least 50 sexual assaults on school property between May and November 2023.

Perhaps most egregious is the claim that school officials were aware that Parham—an adult security guard—actually accompanied Jane Doe 1 to the school prom, an overt red flag that seemingly went unaddressed by administration.

Jane Doe 2 described a similar pattern of grooming that involved inappropriate “play fighting” used as a pretext for unwanted touching and sexualized comments regarding her body.

The lawsuit asserts that these were not isolated incidents. It references a third student from a related legal action (Civil Action No. 24CV067742) who was also allegedly molested by Parham on campus during the fall of 2023.

Central to the lawsuit is the accusation that the Emery Unified School District fostered an environment of “willful blindness.” The complaint alleges that teachers, coaches, and even a principal observed blatant warning signs as early as the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

Attorney Robert Allard, representing the plaintiffs, emphasized that the school district bears a fundamental responsibility for the safety of its students. “School should be a safe place for students to learn and grow—not where trusted adults exploit vulnerable minors,” Allard stated. He argued that the district’s failure to act on clear warning signs “irreparably harmed multiple young women.”

The lawsuit seeks to hold the district accountable for its failure to implement proper oversight and for ignoring the safety protocols designed to prevent exactly this type of predatory behavior. By seeking civil damages, the plaintiffs aim to highlight the catastrophic consequences of institutional silence and ensure that such a breakdown in student protection never recurs within the district.