A preschool in LA Koreatown is facing a civil lawsuit after a parent alleged that her child was sexually abused by a female teacher and that the school failed to take adequate protective measures. The lawsuit also names the school’s Korean American director over her response after the allegation was reported.
According to the LA County Superior Court on January 7, the parent filed a lawsuit seeking damages for mental and emotional harm against a female teacher at LA First Montessori School and the school’s director, identified by the surname Choe. The case involves allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.
The complaint states that in April last year, a 4-year-old girl was subjected to inappropriate physical contact and other forms of sexual abuse by the female teacher during class time. The teacher is identified in the filing under the pseudonym Ms. Sharon.
The plaintiff alleges that after the child’s mother reported the suspected abuse to the preschool, appropriate child protection measures were not taken. The complaint further states that the school’s director sent an email suggesting that the child and the teacher meet face-to-face to discuss the allegations.
The plaintiff claims that this approach caused additional mental trauma to the child. The lawsuit also alleges that the director told the child’s mother that reporting the incident could lead to legal action, which the plaintiff characterizes as an improper form of pressure.
The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages, though no specific amount is listed in the complaint.
A representative of the preschool told this newspaper on January 8 that the school could not comment because the case is currently in litigation.
BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
