LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A 37-year-old woman is suing the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging she was sexually abused more than 20 years ago while in high school by two teachers who were having an affair and brought her into their intimate experiences.
The plaintiff is identified only as Jane Doe in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit filed Wednesday, alleging sexual abuse of a minor, sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. She seeks unspecified damages.
An LAUSD representative issued a statement regarding the lawsuit.
"We have not been served with the suit and we do not comment on pending litigation,'' the statement read. "However, the safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority.''
The suit alleges the two teachers, who were married to other people, sexually abused and harassed Doe from 1999-2001 while she attended Grover Cleveland Charter High School. The complaint further alleges the school “turned a blind eye to blatantly inappropriate behavior.''
Doe met the female teacher in her freshman year and the male teacher in her sophomore year, the suit states. By her junior year, she was having daily lunches with both teachers, the suit states.
Throughout Doe's senior year, she left school after fifth period, or would skip her fourth and fifth period classes, to go off campus with one or both teachers, the suit states.
The teachers' alleged grooming and manipulation of Doe culminated in the three of them meeting at the female teacher's home while her husband was away and a sexual encounter between the three ensued, the suit states.
The school has a history of teachers sexually abusing students, according to the suit.
“There were numerous warning signs that these teachers were pulling this student into their sexual affair,'' plaintiff's attorney John C. Taylor said. “Rather than report or even investigate these red flags, the school put its head in the sand and allowed the abuse to occur.''
Attorney Brendan Gilbert, who also represents Doe, said it is “simply unconscionable that not one, but two, LAUSD teachers were a part of this criminal behavior and the school allowed this abuse to happen. The school's negligence led to years of abuse and emotional repercussions that our client has to deal with for the rest of her life.''
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