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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Having been sued by an adult woman who alleges she was sexually abused by her high school English teacher, the Los Angeles Unified School District has now brought its own legal action against the same teacher.
A woman identified only as Jane Doe was 29 years old when she brought her suit in Los Angeles Superior Court in April 2021 against the district and her former teacher, Barry Smolin, who was married and had children. Doe's attorneys dropped Smolin as a defendant in July and trial of her case against the LAUSD is scheduled for Sept. 12.
On Friday, the LAUSD sued Smolin, asking that any fault found by a jury be split fairly between the district and Smolin.
"It is necessary that the proportionate degree of fault of (Smolin) be determined and pro-rated," the district lawyers state in the Los Angeles Superior Court complaint. "(The LAUSD) should be entitled to equitable contribution from (Smolin) in an amount consistent with its proportionate degree of fault."
A representative for Smolin could not be immediately reached for comment.
According to Doe's suit, Smolin began grooming her as a freshman at Hamilton High School during the 2006-07 school year, in part by giving her a copy of a CD of music he made.
During Doe's sophomore year, Smolin allegedly told Doe that he adored her and that hugs between the two were "mandatory." The alleged grooming continued during Doe's junior year and the sexual abuse began when she was a senior in the 2009-10 school year, her suit states.
"In fact, on one occasion while Smolin was sexually abusing plaintiff, another teacher walked in and Smolin literally threw plaintiff off of him and onto the seat next to him," Doe's suit states.
Smolin also provided Doe with alcohol as a way in order to entice her to continue having an inappropriate relationship with him and he also have her drugs, including marijuana and salvia, her suit alleges.
Smolin additionally gave Doe $300 to buy LSD, telling her she could sell it for a profit, according to her suit, which further states she has suffered humiliation and emotional distress due to the alleged abuses.