Facts

Plaintiffs Yara Brighton Wilde and Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD), its current drama teacher, Kathy Harris, and her husband, James Harris, who was a substitute teacher at the school. They alleged that in the 1990s, Defendant committed repeated sexual assaults on his students at Mission Viejo High School (MVHS), including on Plaintiffs. The Complaint alleged causes of action for negligence, negligent supervision and retention, negligence per se, sexual harassment, and sexual battery.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS: Plaintiffs alleged that Defendant used his position of authority to capitalize on the students' vulnerabilities and used Wilde's troubled home life to further manipulate her. While most of the abuse occurred off campus, they alleged that extensive grooming occurred at the school itself. The lawsuit further alleged Defendant's wife/ co-defendant was aware of and enabled the assaults, and that school and District leadership knew about the abuse accusations in the drama program but did nothing.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS: The individual defendants denied abuse and wrongdoing. The District also denied liability, contending that it had no evidence of defendant's alleged misdeeds or his conduct off campus.

Injuries

Plaintiffs alleged that the sexual abuse had significant emotional repercussions, which necessitated mental health treatment into their adult lives.

Result

Following two mediations with the Hon. James L. Crandall at Judicate West, the parties agreed to settle for $2,225,000.