Facts

Jane AB Doe was a female student at Bear Creek High School, under the control of Lodi Unified School District (LUSD). Despite prior alleged termination for inappropriate interactions with minors at Ronald E. McNair High School (another school within LUSD), LUSD hired Dobbins as a track coach at Bear Creek High School, where he met Jane AB Doe. Between in or around late 2017, when Jane AB Doe was around 15 years old, Dobbins groomed Plaintiff, encouraging her to join a small group of athletes under his direct supervision. Around this time, Dobbins began texting Plaintiff. Dobbins also began driving Jane AB Doe and other students home after practice on campus. Around 2019, when Jane AB Doe was around 16 years old, Dobbins subjected Jane AB Doe to multiple instances of sexual abuse, in his car and in Plaintiff's home. Dobbins was arrested and charged with multiple felony counts, arising from his sexual contact with two minors, including Jane AB Doe. Dobbins was sentenced to prison in June 2019.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff contended that Defendants failed to properly hire, retain, and/or supervise Dobbins, either knowing (or should have known) about the dangers posed by Dobbins due to
his prior termination from another school within LUSD (Ronald E. McNair High School) for alleged inappropriate interactions with minors and alleged failure to complete the fingerprinting requirement of his background check. As a result, LUSD was responsible for Jane AB Doe's injuries.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant LUSD denied liability. Dobbins received fingerprint clearance in connection with his employment with LUSD and was not previously terminated from any school within LUSD. LUSD had no knowledge of any misconduct or inappropriate conduct with minors by Dobbins, and first learned of the alleged abuse of Plaintiff after Dobbins' arrest. There was nothing that did or should have alerted LUSD to the alleged abuse, and the criminal conduct occurred off campus without the District's knowledge.

Injuries

Jane AB Doe suffered personal physical injuries and severe emotional distress, resulting from her molestation by Dobbins.

Result

The case settled for $1 million.