An adult man who alleged he was sexually abused as a minor by a volunteer high school football coach more than two decades ago has tentatively settled his lawsuit against Los Angeles Unified School District.
On Tuesday, attorneys for a plaintiff identified only as John Doe B.T. filed court papers with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jon R. Takasugi notifying him of a “conditional” accord in the case with the expectation a request for dismissal will be filed by June 30. No terms were divulged and it was not clear whether the settlement is subject to final approval by the Board of Education.
Takasugi previously denied a motion by LAUSD attorneys to dismiss the three claims in the suit against the district: negligent hiring, supervision and retention of the coach, Jaime Jimenez, as well as failure to report suspected child abuse and negligent supervision of a minor.
“Because LAUSD failed to take appropriate actions against Jimenez, [he] was able to sexually abuse and harm plaintiff on dozens of occasions,” the suit stated.
In their court papers, LAUSD attorneys argued the causes of action against the district should have been dismissed because Doe B.T. never filed a legal claim before bringing his lawsuit.
Jimenez was sentenced in January 2017 to 36 years in state prison for sex-related acts involving five teenage boys.
Doe B.T. was 17 years old at the time of his alleged victimization and 38 years old when he brought his suit Dec. 12. The complaint alleged Jimenez was a volunteer football coach at Benjamin Franklin High School during the 2003-04 school year and that Jimenez groomed Doe B.T. by overly complimenting and praising him during football games and practices.
Jimenez’s accolades of Doe B.T. escalated to flirtation and to frequent offers to drive the plaintiff home from football practice, then Jimenez eventually began fondling Doe B.T. and inappropriately touching him at school, according to the suit. Jimenez told the plaintiff not to tell anyone about the molestations, the suit alleged.
Although administrators, teachers and staff at the school had received complaints and warnings about Jimenez, no investigation was conducted, the suit alleged. Jimenez was openly “playful” and “flirty” with students at school, the suit brought in December 2024 further stated.