Plaintiffs complain of massages given by track coach. Defense verdict. Los Angeles County.

Summary

School district denies coach did anything inappropriate or that it had any knowledge of it.

Case Name: Jane M.A. Doe and Jane A.N. Doe v. South Pasadena Unified School District
Court and Case Number: Los Angeles Superior Court / BC613578
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Date Action was Filed: Friday, March 11, 2016
Type of Case: Sexual Abuse
Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Colin P. Leis
Plaintiffs:
Jane M.A. Doe
Jane A.N. Doe
Defendants:
South Pasadena Unified School District
Type of Result: Jury Verdict

Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Carrillo Law Firm, LLP by Luis A. Carrillo and Michael Carrillo, South Pasadena.
Attorney for the Defendant:
McCune & Harber LLP by Dana John McCune and Joseph W. Cheung, Los Angeles.

Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s):
Kimberley Lakes, Ph.D., psychology.

Suzanne Dupee, Ph.D., psychology.
Defendant's Medical Expert(s):
Constance Dalenberg, Ph.D., psychology.

Veronica Thomas, Ph.D., psychology.
Plaintiff's Technical Expert(s):
Marianne Stephens, Ed.D., school administration.

Christopher Richardson, high school track.
Defendant's Technical Expert(s):
Larry Perondi, school administration.

William McLaughlin, high school athletics/track.

Facts and Background:
Plaintiffs alleged their high school track coach gave them inappropriate massages in 2013 and 2014 at South Pasadena High School. The accused coach had been coaching for 10 years before these allegations were made.
Plaintiff's Contentions:
That high school coaches must never touch athletes and that defendant school district negligently supervised and retained the coach.
Defendant's Contentions:
Defendant had no notice of any facts that would lead it to suspect the coach posed a risk of harm to students. High school coaches providing low-level massages to athletes is commonplace and within the reasonable standard of care.

Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff:
Plaintiffs claimed emotional distress and PTSD.
Plaintiffs claimed $12,500,000 in non-economic damages.