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Man Sues El Segundo Unified Over Alleged Sexual Abuse by Teacher Decades Ago
Eds: SUBS 6th graf. Case no. 23TRCV02265. Attorneys Brian L. Williams, Jemma E. Dunn and Emily N. Engler, for the plaintiff, can be reached at 949- 383-2800, bwilliams@ggtriallaw.com, jdunn@ggtriallaw.com, eengler@ggtriallaw.com. Michael Reck, also for the plaintiff, 310- 357-2425, mreck@andersonadvocates.com.
TORRANCE (CNS) - A man is suing the El Segundo Unified School District, alleging he was sexually abused more than 20 years ago by a social studies teacher while he was in middle school, including while the two were on a school-related trip to Washington, D.C.
The plaintiff is identified only as John Doe 7091 in the Torrance Superior Court lawsuit filed Thursday, alleging sexual battery and harassment, negligence and negligent supervision and retention. Doe seeks unspecified damages.
The ESUSD was responsible for the supervision of its employees, including the teacher, and assumed responsibility for the well-being of Doe and other minors in its care, the suit states.
The ESUSD released a statement Monday regarding the suit.
"The El Segundo Unified School District is aware of the pending lawsuit," the statement read. "The district takes all allegations of misconduct very seriously; however, we cannot comment on the specifics of the lawsuit or the associated allegations as this is an ongoing legal matter and involves a district employee."
Doe started eighth grade at El Segundo Middle School in 2000-2001 and in the spring of 2001, he met one of two school social studies teachers while the plaintiff was attending school meetings in preparation for a school- sponsored trip to Washington, D.C., the suit states.
Although Doe was not assigned to the female teacher's class, she "took an immediate interest in plaintiff during these meetings" and later began often corresponding with him through emails, the suit alleges.
The teacher "gained the trust and confidence of plaintiff by befriending him and making him feel special" and as her influence on Doe grew, she "began increasing her flirtatious conversations with plaintiff," the suit alleges.
"She would frequently tell him that he was the most mature of all the students at El Segundo Middle School and frequently complimented his intelligence," the suit states. "She also began encouraging him to engage in more explicit sexual conversations."
The teacher also "consistently told plaintiff that it was important he never discuss the grooming or sexual assaults," the suit states.
During the flight to Washington, D.C., the teacher changed the seating chart on the plane so that Doe would be seated next to her and she "assaulted plaintiff on at least two mornings" once they were in the nation's capital, the suit states.
The teacher also sexually abused Doe in her classroom, in her car and in her Hermosa Beach apartment, and she wrote a love message in the plaintiff's yearbook at the end of the school year, the suit states.
Doe eventually transferred to another school district because of the rumors surrounding him and the teacher, but she continued to sexually abuse him through the spring/summer of 2003, the suit states.