An adult man who alleges he was sexually abused as a minor by a volunteer high school football coach more than two decades ago can proceed for now with his lawsuit against Los Angeles Unified, a judge has ruled.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jon R. Takasugi denied a motion by LAUSD attorneys to dismiss the three claims in the suit against the district, which allege 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. The plaintiff is identified only as John Doe B.T.
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"Because LAUSD failed to take appropriate actions against Jimenez, (he) was able to sexually abuse and harm plaintiff on dozens of occasions," the suit states.
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 alleges 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.
The praises escalated to flirtation and frequent offers to drive the plaintiff home from football practice and later to Jimenez fondling Doe B.T. and inappropriately touching him at school, according to the suit, which further alleges Jimenez told the plaintiff not to tell anyone about the molestations.
Although administrators, teachers and staff at the school had received complaints and warnings about Jimenez, no investigation was conducted, the suit alleges. Jimenez was openly "playful" and "flirty" with students at school, the suit further states.
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