LAFAYETTE, Calif. — The Lafayette School District, which is named in a lawsuit involving the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl, claims that the victim was careless, negligent and contributed to her ongoing sexual abuse at the hands of a former Stanley Middle School teacher.
The victim, known as Jane Doe in court documents, filed a lawsuit against the district, as well as Superintendent Fred Brill, Stanley Middle School Principal David Schrag and former teacher Michael Merrick in March, reports Contra Costa Times.
Merrick, 49, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the victim in his classroom throughout a four-month period in 2010. In the lawsuit, Jane Doe claims that district officials knew that Merrick had inappropriately touched other students in the past, but took no action stop it.
A Lafayette School District attorney said the filing is standard legal procedure, and as the case moves forward and more facts are revealed, the district might abandon the potential defense.
The victim seeks medical expenses, a punitive award and general damages.
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