Anaheim School District Sexual Abuse

School sexual abuse can cause immense emotional distress and lasting damage to a child. Schools and school districts often have the power to prevent student sexual abuse; yet there have been multiple cases of Anaheim school districts not only failing to prevent abuse but covering up reports of sexual misconduct and assault by teachers and employees.

If you or your child is a survivor of Anaheim school district sexual abuse, don’t hesitate to contact Manly, Stewart & Finaldi for legal assistance. We are one of the nation’s leading sexual abuse and assault plaintiff’s law firms. We have the experience and resources to help you go up against a major institution, including a school district in California, in pursuit of justice. Initial case evaluations are free and entirely confidential.

Public Schools and School Districts Have a History of Covering Up Sexual Abuse

Staff members at schools in Anaheim have a legal obligation to report allegations of student sexual abuse and assault. Unfortunately, public schools and school districts in California and throughout the country have a history of sweeping sexual abuse complaints under the rug and covering up these crimes. They often wish to protect their reputations and funding more than their students.

The Anaheim Union High School District or Anaheim Elementary School District may be guilty of covering up sexual abuse in the following ways:

  • Failing to perform a background check before hiring new employees.
  • Failing to implement protocols for preventing, detecting and reporting sexual misconduct.
  • Ignoring complaints of employee misconduct by students and parents.
  • Failing to report alleged sexual abuse or assault to the proper authorities.
  • Failing to terminate employees after finding evidence of misconduct.
  • Reassigning alleged abusers to other schools instead of firing them.
  • Transferring the student who complained to a different class.

At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, we have gone up against multiple school districts and won. Our attorneys have achieved impressive settlements and verdicts against the Los Angeles Unified School District, Torrance Unified School District, Redlands Unified School District and Lodi Unified School District. We know what it takes to hold a powerful school district accountable for the mistreatment and abuse of its students.

Sexual Abuse Claims Involving Anaheim School Districts

In 2015, retired drama teacher David Bruce was arrested on suspicion of child molestation and possession of child pornography. He taught at Sycamore Junior High School in the Anaheim Union High School District for almost three decades. He was found dead in his home of suspected suicide on the final day of his criminal trial. The criminal case against him centered on the alleged sexual assault of six minors, ages 11 to 14, from 1996 to 2011.

In October 2019, a $7.95 million settlement was reached in a lawsuit against the Anaheim Union High School District for sexual abuse by a former water polo coach at John F. Kennedy High School, Joshua Owens. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of five plaintiffs who were former water polo team members, alleged that the school district negligently hired abusive teachers and refused to take action against those who failed to report the sexual abuse of a minor, as required by law. The allegations against Owens included inappropriate touching and verbally and physically abusive behaviors against female minors.

Most recently, there was a lawsuit filed against unnamed defendants in 2020 for the alleged sexual harassment and assault of eight students at Fremont and Sycamore Junior High Schools by a now-deceased band director, Richard Elgas, from the 1970s to the 1990s. The lawsuit claims that the defendants were negligent in allowing Elgas access to minor children. Both Anaheim school districts have made it clear that their priorities are not with student safety.

Do You Have a Case Against an Anaheim School District? Find Out Today

If you believe you have a case against a school district, school and/or individual in Anaheim, California for school sexual abuse, please contact Manly, Stewart & Finaldi for a free, no-obligation consultation with an attorney. We care about student welfare and are passionate about pursuing justice on behalf of our clients. Call (800) 700-8450 or contact us online today to find out how we can help you.