Facts

Defendant, Sean Ramiro Lopez, taught 8th Grade English at Clement Middle School, The school is located in the Redlands Unified School District, another defendant. Seven of Lopez's students filed suit against the defendants. The lawsuits were filed after the enactment of the state law passed after January 1, 2020, which gave victims of childhood sexual abuse until the age of 40 to file civil lawsuits. Four separate lawsuits were consolidated into one case. A news investigation revealed that the district had covered up sexual abuse allegations for nearly two decades. According to court testimony, Lopez invited victims to his home using the guise that they would be participating in a clinical trial for an experimental growth-enhancing hormone. He would have them ingest pills, measure their genitals and ask the boys to masturbate while watching pornography. He would also extract their semen using a syringe. Lopez waived his right to a jury trial and a judge convicted him of 60 felony counts.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS: Plaintiffs contended that Lopez sexually abused them and that school administrators were aware of what was going on but failed to take proper action.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS: The district representative states that what the students suffered was "reprehensible and troubling." He also stated that the district has put into place more aggressive policies, procedures and reporting protocols that were enacted to prevent these types of situations in the future.

Result

The lawsuit was settled for $11 million dollars and Lopez is serving a 74-year prison sentence for sexual abuse.

Other Information

Related Cases: CIVDS2003714; CIVDS201176; CIVDS2016165