The parents of a minor girl that engaged in sexual activities with her volleyball coach, have filed a personal injury lawsuit against the school for its failure in providing a safe environment, and adequately supervising the coach's illegal behavior, as reported by the Herald Argus from La Porte, Indiana.
Named in the suit are Coach R.A., the La Porte Community School Corp., Varsity Volleyball Coach M.L. and Athletic Director E.G.
In 2011 R.A. was convicted for felony charges relating to sexual seduction and misconduct with a minor under the age of 16.
Tim Stoesz, the attorney representing the victim, told reporters, "We would have liked to have avoided filing a lawsuit. There were communications between the parties back to last fall, but they were terminated by the school system when Varsity Volleyball Coach (M.L.) and Athletic Director (E.G.) and the school were indicted and they were never reopened."
The suit alleges that when the student was 15-years-old, beginning September 2007 and up to the summer of 2009, R.A. engaged her in approximately 25 sexual trysts. Two acts of statutory rape allegedly occurred when the student was 14-years-old.
The victim is now 19.
Damages are sought against the defendants both collectively and severally. The plaintiffs have asked for $500,000 for each individual cause of action accrued between Jan 1, 2006 and January 1, 2008. They also seek $700,000 for each cause of action accruing on, or after, January 1, 2008.
The plaintiffs also seek to have access to a report, compiled by private investigator, L.E., which had been done on behalf of the school corporation.
Stoesz said, "When we get that report we plan on releasing it to the public while protecting the minors' identities, but the public has a right to know what's in that report."
Stoesz said that the victim and her family "hoped the talks would have produced a reasonable settlement to compensate the victim for what will be a lifetime of damages" and that they are "very nice, good, down-to-earth people and they've been very hurt by what's happened. They haven't sought to persecute anyone involved in the incident, but they are hurt by the actions of the school corporation."
The suit identifies M.L. and E.G. for their failure in supervising R.A. properly. The suit also claims that different sources made indications to M.L. and E.G. in regards to R.A.'s activities with the victim – which the two failed to act on.
Stoesz added, "Unfortunately this feels like another instance of the school putting itself and the teachers' interest ahead of the students' interests."
School Superintendent G.M. refused to comment on the pending litigation and had yet to receive a copy of the lawsuit.
If your minor child has been the victim of abuse from a teacher, coach, or employee at school, you have grounds for a lawsuit! Contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case and seek damages.