MINNEAPOLIS — A former student has filed a lawsuit against DeLaSalle High School and a former teacher alleging sexual abuse by a person of authority.
The civil suit filed by Jane Doe, a pseudonym to protect the former student's privacy, alleges that the former teacher started "grooming" her when she was placed in his classroom at the age of 16 in 2020. The former teacher was 28 years old at the time.
According to the 24-page civil suit, the former teacher often asked Jane about her sexual life and the sexual lives of her classmates.
The former teacher was known for giving students hugs and "would place his hands on Jane's lower back, close to her buttocks when he gave her a hug," according to the suit.
Court documents say the former teacher told Jane and another student that he had left his previous teaching position because of allegations of sexual misconduct toward a minor female student.
According to the suit, the former teacher began messaging Jane through Instagram with "inappropriate sexual comments" in the spring of 2022, when he allegedly asked about her sex life and shared his personal stories about his sexual experiences.
The suit claims that at the end of April 2022, the former teacher began giving Jane a ride home in his car and started sexually abusing her inside the vehicle. The suit also alleges that the former teacher "sexually assaulted" Jane while she volunteered under his supervision as part of DeLaSalle's work-service program.
Throughout the alleged abuse of Jane, the suit states that Jane told the former teacher that she only wanted their relationship to be platonic.
The attorneys for the plaintiff, Jane Doe, are seeking a trial by jury and compensation for her bodily, physical, and emotional injuries, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys fees, among other things.
DeLaSalle High School officials released a statement on Tuesday:
"A former student recently filed a lawsuit against DeLaSalle alleging sexual misconduct by a former member of the school's faculty.
The faculty member named in the suit left employment with the school in the summer of 2022. The school was not aware of the allegations set forth in the lawsuit at any time when either the student attended the school or when the involved former faculty member was employed by DeLaSalle.
DeLaSalle has taken the allegations set forth in the lawsuit very seriously since they were first reported to the school. The school promptly reported this information to the Minneapolis Police Department and the school has fully cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the law enforcement's investigation into these serious allegations.
The former faculty member had completed a required comprehensive criminal background check, which did not reveal any criminal violations prior to his employment at DeLaSalle. The former faculty member had also completed the safe environment training and had signed the Code of Conduct as part of the ordinary hiring process.
DeLaSalle is committed to the safety of its students and to future success of our students through its commitment to Catholic education and the Lasallian traditions."