BUTTE,
Calif., Aug. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A lawsuit has
been filed in Butte County Superior Court, alleging a girl, a
student at the time in Chico Unified School District, was sexually
assaulted while on a school-sponsored educational trip.
The complaint contends that Jane
Doe (used to protect the survivor's name) was 13 in May of
2002 when she was a student at Bidwell Junior High School. She was
to serve as a student counselor for a Neal Dow Elementary School
trip to Yosemite for an event. The
perpetrator was an adult chaperone for the trip.
According to the complaint, the perpetrator who is now on a sex
offender registry, committed his crimes during a trip that was not
only school-sponsored, but required for students. A science teacher
made a change from the usual trip. Normally, this "Environmental
Camp" would involve students traveling to a supervised outdoor
camping site to enjoy nature and learn. However, this science
teacher elected to hold the event at Yosemite National Park and chose to use
teachers and unscreened volunteer parents as chaperones instead of
camp counselors.
The science teacher received expressed permission from the
school to make that change. While on this trip, the students were
not provided proper protections, including enforcement of rules and
guidelines, for the chaperones.
According to the complaint, immediately upon arrival at the
event, the perpetrator began acting inappropriately toward
Jane Doe. He asked her how old she
was, asked her specific sexual questions, and was acting
inappropriately towards several female students. On the bus ride in
fact, he forced Jane Doe on to his
lap. This behavior was reported to the supervising science teacher,
but no action was taken.
On the last day of the trip, the perpetrator volunteered to
fetch water for the group. He insisted Jane go with him, which the
supervising teacher eventually allowed. At the water station, he
began touching Jane inappropriately, and after getting water
violently sexually assaulted her. He then told her she could not
tell anyone what happened and threatened her with a large
knife.
The supervising teacher realized something had happened and
after the event attempted to protect Jane
Doe when the perpetrator wanted the young girl to ride in
his truck with him back home.
"This was a terrible incident," said attorney Mary Alexander. "How could the school and
supervising teachers fail to protect this child? They put students
in harm's way by having parent counselors and teachers who were
never properly screened or trained for an overnight trip. It is a
completely avoidable nightmare for which my client deserves
justice."
"These types of scars last forever," said attorney Bobby Thompson. "What this school did was allow
this woman's innocence to be stolen when she was just a child. How
many more kids were treated this way?"
This case is Jane Doe v. Chico
Unified School District, Butte County Superior Court, Case No.
24CV02467.
About Mary
Alexander & Associates, P.C.
At the law firm of Mary Alexander
& Associates, we are proud of our record and tradition of
excellence. Preparing thoroughly for trial is the trademark of our
firm, and we build innovative courtroom exhibits and technology to
help juries understand even the most complex legal matters. Our
innovations, creativity and preparation have allowed us to achieve
an outstanding record of success. We are proud of the verdicts and
settlements we have obtained for our deserving clients.
About TLO Law
Bobby Thompson solely represents
individuals harmed by the irresponsible and careless conduct of
others. Bobby's mission is to hold responsible corporations,
institutions and insurance companies that place profits over the
safety of others. His philosophy is to do everything in his power
to obtain justice. Above all, Bobby leaves nothing to chance in
developing the facts to prove the wrongdoer's liability, and in
assembling the evidence to prove every component of his client's
damages.
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