Crime & Safety

Lockport HS Student Was Sexually Assaulted By Classmate: Lawsuit

The suit has been filed in Cook County court regarding allegations of a 2022 sexual assault of a student.

Andrea Earnest,Patch Staff

Posted Tue, Jan 9, 2024 at 1:17 pm CT|Updated Tue, Jan 9, 2024 at 1:24 pm CT

LOCKPORT, IL — A Lockport Township High School student’s parents have filed a lawsuit against Lockport Township High School District 205 alleging a sexual assault that happened in 2022, according to a release from GWC Injury Lawyers, LLC.

The suit names the school district, Superintendent Robert McBride and Assistant Superintendent Anthony Cundari as defendants.

The suit claims that a student of LTHS, referred to as “Jane Doe,” had traveled to Andrew High School in Tinley Park as a member of a sports team. While at the school, she was forcibly raped by a fellow LTHS student, according to a release from the law firm.

The complaint filed in Cook County court, since that is where the assault took place, states that the assailant had multiple prior sexual assault allegations.

According to the complaint, McBride, Cundari and other District 205 officials knew that Doe’s assailant had an extensive history of sexual assault allegations, “yet inadequate, or no steps at all, were taken to prevent Doe’s assailant from committing another sexual assault at this school sporting event,” the law firm said.

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The complaint seeks damages for physical and emotional damages suffered by the victim, the law firm said.

“The damages suffered by Doe are the most unimaginable, life-altering damages that can occur to a young girl. The emotional scarring will never heal. Students should be safe during school activities,” GWC lead counsel, Timothy J. Keiser, said in a release. “Parents should have the peace of mind that their children will remain safe when they are at school or participating in school-sanctioned events. Unfortunately, Doe and her family have had their peace of mind and sense of safety stripped away and trampled upon by the District’s conscious disregard for the health, safety and well-being of this young girl.”

“The allegations of the Complaint suggest that given the District’s advanced knowledge of the assailant’s history, the District is the only party involved that was not shocked that this sexual assault occurred. Doe seeks and deserves justice from the District, given its knowledge of the assailant’s propensities, as well as its responsibility to prevent such a heinous act from ever occurring at a school event,” Keiser said.

According to the court complaint, in 2021, local law enforcement investigated a complaint a student made about the same offending student, who had touched the victim inappropriately. In March 2022, another student told an LTHS employee the offending student had sexually assaulted them. Law enforcement investigated and took statements.

“Despite knowledge of two prior sexual attacks, District 205 permitted the assailant to continue living an otherwise normal high school experience,” the complaint states.

The complaint states that the assailant was taken into custody by law enforcement after the assault in Tinley Park. The student transferred schools without undergoing formal expulsion proceedings.

The initial case management date is set for March 13 at 9:30 a.m., according to the law firm.

Patch has reached out to LTHS District for comment.