A lawsuit filed against the Covina-Valley Unified School District on behalf of a 17-year-old girl alleges the teen was sexually abused by a part-time wrestling coach.
The girl’s mother is also is a plaintiff in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, which alleges negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress and sexual harassment.
A CVUSD representative could not be immediately reached for comment on the complaint, which is seeking unspecified damages.
The complaint filed Monday alleges the girl was sexually abused by the coach, Anthony Vidales, while she was a member of his team at South Hills High School in West Covina. The complaint does not state when the alleged abuses occurred.
The suit alleges the school administration negligently hired, supervised and retained Vidales. Principal Chad Stewart, Assistant Principal Manuel Burciaga, acting Dean of Students Lisa Berry and Athletic Director Darren Murphy were all responsible for monitoring Vidales to make sure he coached, taught, counseled and advised students, including the plaintiff, the suit states.
The four school officials also should have known Vidales “had previously engaged in dangerous and inappropriate conduct with children,” the suit alleges.
Vidales was charged earlier this year with unlawful sexual intercourse and possession of child pornography.
— Wire reports