Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Lawsuit Accuses Leigh High School Teacher of Impregnating Young Student, Forcing Abortion

Published on: April 18, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has filed a lawsuit against the Campbell Union High School District. The lawsuit alleges that Leigh High School teacher Shawn Thomas impregnated a student in 2003 and forced her to have an abortion. Thomas was arrested last month after the former student disclosed to police that he raped her while she was his student.

Click for a copy of the lawsuit

The lawsuit states that the victim, referred to as Jane Doe, was a freshman at Leigh High in the 2002-2003 school year. Thomas allegedly began grooming her for sexual advances and assaulting her multiple times on school grounds, including in his portable classroom and a storage room in the boys’ locker room. The lawsuit claims that Thomas’s wife Sarah, who was the Dean of Leigh High at the time, discovered the victim with Thomas in his classroom after they had been having sex.

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Emery Unified School District Sued Over Sexual Abuse

Published on: March 18, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard in San Jose announces a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Emery Unified School District over the alleged sexual abuse of a 16-year-old student by a school security guard.

The lawsuit, filed in Alameda County, highlights the failure of Emery High School employees to address the sexual misconduct of security guard Daniel Parham, despite knowledge of his inappropriate sexual behavior with other students. Parham is accused of isolating and assaulting the victim on multiple occasions during the 2023-2024 school year in various locations on school grounds.

This legal action is rooted in the duty of educational institutions to provide a safe environment for students and to prevent harm, especially when there are clear indications of misconduct by staff members that endanger students’ well-being.

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Lawsuit Filed Against Sharks Sports & Entertainment Over Alleged Sexual Abuse of San Jose Jr. Sharks Player

Published on: March 7, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has filed a lawsuit alleging that a San Jose Jr. Sharks hockey player suffered sexual abuse as a result of the negligence of Sharks Sports & Entertainment, LLC (SSE) and its subsidiary, Sharks Ice, LLC.

According to the lawsuit, former San Jose Jr. Sharks hockey coach Kevin Whitmer allegedly began grooming John Doe in April 2021 and subsequently subjected him to multiple instances of sexual assault when he was 12 years old. The lawsuit contends that Whitmer would reportedly take the young victim alone into the locker room at Sharks Ice, the ice-skating facility serving as the official training venue for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.

The Jr. Sharks are an affiliate of USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States.

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San Ramon Valley USD Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Published on: February 29, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

A former student from San Ramon Valley High School in Danville has filed a lawsuit against her former theatre arts teacher, Ryan Weible, and the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. The San Jose law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard is representing the victim.

The plaintiff accuses Weible of grooming and sexually abusing her over a decade ago, during the 2010-2011 school year. The lawsuit alleges inappropriate behavior, including hugs, hand massages, students sitting on his lap, and special attention to female students.

Of significant concern is the assertion that despite numerous complaints regarding Weible’s conduct, the school district failed to take appropriate action until 2012. Moreover, the complaint alleges that the district never reported suspicions of child abuse to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), allowing Weible to continue working with minors. Weible, currently serves as Assistant Head of School for a prestigious Bay Area private school.

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Lawsuit Filed Against USA Fencing Over Alleged Sexual Abuse by Former Sunnyvale Coach

Published on: February 13, 2024 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

USA Fencing finds itself embroiled in controversy as allegations of sexual abuse surface against one of its coaches. This has resulted in a lawsuit being filed by the sexual abuse law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard against USA Fencing, highlighting the critical need for robust safeguarding measures and prompt action in handling abuse allegations within sports organizations.

The issue of abuse within USA Fencing, the National Governing Body for Fencing in the United States, has been a persistent concern. Similar to many sports organizations, instances of abuse have emerged over time, prompting investigations and calls for reform.

The #MeToo movement played a pivotal role in shedding light on various forms of misconduct and abuse across different industries, including sports. In response to allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse within fencing, USA Fencing established a Safe Sport Task Force in 2019.

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San Francisco Unified School District | Lowell High School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Published on: July 26, 2023 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

The law firm Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has launched a lawsuit against the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) on grounds of alleged childhood sexual abuse. The suit claims that the school district failed to adequately supervise Harlan Edelman, a former teacher and counselor at Lowell High School.

According to the lawsuit, during the academic year 2004-2005, Edelman commenced a process of “grooming” a student, identified as John Doe, to gain his trust with the ultimate goal of sexually exploiting him. Under the pretense of assisting Doe with improving his academic performance, Edelman reportedly offered Doe rides home, meals, and gifts. Allegedly, despite this behavior, school authorities ignored Edelman’s actions. The lawsuit accuses Edelman of abusing Doe on the premises of Lowell High School, including his own office and classroom.

The plaintiff, Doe, was under the impression that Edelman wielded significant influence at Lowell High School and could aid him in achieving his academic ambitions. Lowell High School holds a reputation as one of the top high schools in the nation and consistently ranks among the Top 10 Public Schools in California based on test scores.

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Oakland Unified School District sued for sexual abuse of students

Published on: May 9, 2023 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Two lawsuits filed in 2022 allege that former Oakland Unified School District teacher William “Skip” Allara sexually abused two students at two different schools. The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard represents one of the victims.

The first lawsuit was filed in August of 2022 and alleges that Allara sexually abused a student at Jefferson Elementary School in Oakland. The lawsuit claims that the sexual abuse and sexual assault took place during the 1976-1977 time period when the student was 11-years-old.

According to the lawsuit, Allara abused the student in the classroom, the teacher’s bathroom at school, and in his vehicle.

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Sexual abuse lawsuit filed against Twin Rivers Unified School District

Published on: February 1, 2023 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Following the sexual misconduct arrest of Del Paso Heights Elementary School teacher Kim Wilson last month, one of his victims is now filing a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Twin Rivers Unified School District.

The San Jose based law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard filed the case in Sacramento County Superior Court on behalf of the now 19-year-old victim.

The lawsuit states that the school district failed in its legal duty to properly screen and supervise Wilson. Wilson, alleges the lawsuit, engaged in highly visible grooming activities and used his role as the head of the school’s broadcast group to isolate the victim in a locked, windowless, padded sound proof room.

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Lawsuit filed against Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, alleging he raped an underage disabled teenager

Published on: December 19, 2022 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

LAS VEGAS, NV – Dec. 8, 2022 – A civil lawsuit was filed today against Backstreet Boys pop star Nick Carter for the February 2001 rape of a 17-year-old girl.

The crime occurred following a Backstreet Boys concert in Tacoma, Washington.

The lawsuit was filed in Las Vegas because that’s where Carter lives.

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Law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard files sexual abuse lawsuit against Los Banos Unified School District and Merced County Office of Education

Published on: August 15, 2022 | By Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP

Two alleged victims of former teachers Gary Bettencourt and Dusty Norris seek to hold the enablers of their predators accountable for their sexual abuse.

The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has filed a sexual abuse lawsuit in Merced County Superior Court alleging that former Merced County educators, Gary Bettencourt and Dusty Norris, sexually abused two young students.

Identified as Jane Doe 1 in the lawsuit, the complaint alleges that Norris abused her during the 2004-2005 school year. At the time Norris was employed by the Merced County of Education (MCOE) as an ROP teacher at Los Banos High School.

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