A personal injury lawsuit has been filed alleging that a school covered up the true reason a coach resigned, stating it was "health reasons" and not due to predatory behavior, which put a student at risk for his sexual advances, as reported by the Courthouse News Service.
The coach, R.G., is now facing felony charges for having sex with the victim, known as Jane Doe, 17, in the suit.
R.G. was employed as the Golden West varsity basketball team's assistant coach.
Along with R.G., also named in the suit is the Visalia Unified School District, Golden West High School Principal N.P. and Athletic Director T.B.
The suit is filed in the Tulare County Court.
Without the knowledge of the true reason behind R.G.'s resignation Doe's parents hired him to give their daughter private basketball lessons.
According to Doe, by the end of 2011 the school and other officials had knowledge of R.G. sending one of the basketball team players "inappropriate text messages, sexual in nature."
The suit states, "…Principal (N.P.) was shown the text messages on the player's cell phone, and copied each message word for word. Principal (N.P.) also became aware of allegations that Mr. (R.G.) had attempted to kiss one of the other players. When she specifically asked the girl if Coach (R.G.) and another girl had kissed, the girl replied yes, they had. Principal (N.P.) and (T.B.) investigated this matter further. Thereafter, at a meeting on or about November 4, 2011... (R.G.) had 'chosen to resign.' That was untrue, and the leadership at Golden West High School knew it was untrue because Coach (R.G.) had actually been fired by Principal (N.P.) based on what was learned during the investigation. Nevertheless, in a breach of their duty to plaintiff that same day a letter was sent to 'Girls Basketball parents and players' restating the falsehood about 'health concerns…"
The suit alleges that Vice Principal A.R. spoke to one or more of the girl's in the team asking who would be a target, or at risk, from Coach R.G. and was told that Jane Doe would be the most vulnerable. However, according to the suit, Jane Doe's family was not alerted.
The complaint reads, "Even with this information gathered by the upper administration of Golden West High School, neither plaintiff's parents, nor plaintiff was ever warned or notified of the real reasons for coach (R.G.'s) dismissal or of the known potential danger to plaintiff."
During Doe's private coaching lessons, R.G. is accused of persuading Doe to "engage in kissing and petting in his car."
The coaching lesson time was not the only time that R.G. pursued Doe. He began to pick her up from school and took "her to his home and had sex with her …"
After R.G. was arrested and charged with felony, sex with a minor, Principal N.P. was questioned by police. It was then that Doe's family learned that R.G. "was in fact an employee and she (Principal N.P.) had dismissed him on November 3, 2011, for reasons of inappropriate contact with girls on the basketball team."
Doe has since left her school and transferred to another; she is also receiving counseling.
Compensatory and punitive damages are sought due to failure to warn, failure to supervise and train, fraud and deceit, infliction of emotional distress and sexual battery.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by the actions, or inactions, of another party, contact a personal injury lawyer right away for help.