Sexual misconduct suit against WWPS gets a trial date
By Terry Murry on Monday, August 2nd, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – A lawsuit against Walla Walla Public Schools over allegations of sexual misconduct is tentatively scheduled to go to trial Feb. 15, 2022.
The lawsuit, filed in mid-July, is being brought by Tacoma attorneys Darrell Cochran and Bridget Grotz on behalf of the mother of a former seventh-grader student at Pioneer Middle School. The former student, who was just 12 years old at the time, alleged that a music teacher sexually harassed her between 2015 and 2016.
According to Cochran, one of the primary reasons the lawsuit was filed was to bring community attention to the threat presented by the music teacher as both a teacher and private music lesson provider.
“The failures by local prosecutors and the district to hold him accountable gave him free reign to continue his access to kids unabated,” Cochran said. “We also fight to bring attention to how dangerous coaching and music teacher positions are in terms of unsupervised access to kids. And then we want to force the district to strengthen policies and training.”
As the employer of the music teacher, Cochran said in a news release that Walla Walla Public Schools allegedly received complaints from students regarding the music teacher’s predatory behavior but did not take proper action.
Cochran said while the lawsuit he and Grotz filed is civil, the threat of criminal action is still out there.
“The local prosecutor controls decisions about criminal charging,” Cochran said.
Walla Walla County Prosecuting Jim Nagle told KTEL News that his office is not currently reviewing any criminal charges against the teacher..
In response to the lawsuit, Walla Walla Public Schools stated that the district takes the allegations in the lawsuit very seriously. Furthermore, the district said as this matter proceeds through the litigation process, WWPS will remain committed to providing a safe and positive educational experience for all its students, teachers, parents and the community.
According to Cochran, no other alleged victims have contacted his office, but they may have contacted other attorneys.
“We hope victims come forward and contact an attorney for help in addressing what they have been through,” he said. “Child sexual abuse by a teacher really causes a tremendous amount of damage and left unaddressed, it becomes so toxic in a child. The fact that the district has failed to reach out to kids that were in his classes and lessons makes me sad and angry. The district would send home letters with every child exposed to salmonella in the school cafeteria, why does it cover up the public health hazards of child sexual abuse?”
Because the former music teacher has not been criminally charged Elkhorn Media Group did not name the individual in this report.
