Trial News

Doe, 14, was a freshman at Pasadena High School. A school security officer came to Doe’s classroom and told her teacher that she needed to leave class to attend to an issue regarding her locker. The security officer then took Doe to the school auditorium, where a 17-year-old male student was waiting for her. Doe and the student had sexual intercourse in the auditorium. A janitor discovered them, and the incident led to a five-day suspension. Doe became the target of social media threats by other students, who labeled her a “ho” and a “snitch” for exposing the security officer. As a result, Doe was forced to leave her school and attend another high school.

Doe suffered emotional distress and required counseling. Her medical expenses exceeded $7,000.

Doe, through a guardian, sued the Pasadena Unified School District, alleging negligent supervision of students and employees. The plaintiff asserted that the defendant knew or should have known that the security officer was facilitating inappropriate conduct by students, including unlocking the auditorium for the older student and taking Doe out of class to go meet with him.

The jury awarded more than $887,400.

Citation: Doe v. Pasadena Unified Sch. Dist., No. BC645866 (Cal. Super. Ct. Los Angeles Cty. Sept. 11, 2019).

Plaintiff counsel: W. Keith Wyatt, Los Angeles.

Plaintiff expert: Stan Katz, counseling, Beverly Hills, Calif.

Defense expert: Manuel Saint Martin, psychiatry, Los Angeles.