CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — It was June 2023 when police arrested Andrew Castro, who taught physical education at Federico García Lorca Elementary School, over accusations that he sexually abused three boys between the years of 2018 and 2022. Now, a lawsuit has been filed over those allegations.
The lawsuit names the Chicago Board of Education, including Federico García Lorca Elementary School, Chicago Public School District No. 299 and Castro.
"For over five years, our clients — students at a Chicago Public Schools — endured grooming and sexual abuse by a teacher," said Patrycja Karlin is with the Karlin Law Firm.
The allegations were that Castro befriended the families of the students, which led to sleepovers at the teacher's home and, eventually, sexual abuse.
Larry Disparti, with the Disparti Law Group, said the board of education, the school and the school district all "failed to act in protecting three minor children."
Cass Casper, an attorney with the Disparti Law Group, accused the school district of being aware of the sexual abuse allegations "at least as of May 2021."
"Despite that … they didn't do enough to warn parents that this individual was a threat," he said
The Sun-Times reported in June that prosecutors said Castro was still employed with CPS but had been placed on leave during an unrelated investigation.
WBBM has reached out to CPS for comment.
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