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Castilleja School Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Abuse of Three Students
A lawsuit filed by the law firms of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard along with Mary Alexander & Associates alleges that three former Castilleja School students were sexually abused as a result of the school concealing a tutor’s predatory behavior from the public and the school community, and choosing to cover up complaints regarding his alleged sexual misconduct with minor students.
The lawsuit accuses the private, all-girls school of negligent supervision, negligent misrepresentation, and inadequate training, stating that the school failed to properly investigate or report prior complaints about the inappropriate behavior of tutor Mark Hodes.
The complaint states that Castilleja School was aware of Hodes' inappropriate behavior as early as 1992-1993 and was on notice that Hodes engaged in highly inappropriate grooming behavior with minor female students, which created a risk he would sexually assault one of them.
The lawsuit adds that at least one Castilleja employee continued to recommend Hodes as a tutor, allowed him to freely access campus unsupervised even though he was not an employee, and chose not to take any further actions to deter his abuse of students.
Jane Doe 1 claims she was abused during the 2012-0213 school year while a middle school student during tutoring sessions. Jane Doe 2 claims she was abused both on campus and at Hodes' home from 2012-2016 while a high school student at Castilleja. Jane Doe 3 alleges she was sexually assaulted from 2007-2011 while a high school student at Castilleja.
The abuse of these students was entirely preventable had the school placed the safety of its students above the reputation of its school.
This lawsuit highlights the critical importance of rigorous oversight and prompt action in educational institutions to protect vulnerable students. It underscores the need for schools to thoroughly investigate and report any suspicions of inappropriate behavior, prioritizing student safety above all else.
The case also raises questions about the responsibility of schools in vetting and monitoring non-employees who have access to students, as well as the potential long-term consequences of failing to address early warning signs of predatory behavior.
In 1997, Hodes was allegedly removed from Palo Alto High School's campus due to sexual abuse of a student. In August 2020, Hodes was arrested on a warrant for nine felony counts of lewd acts with a minor aged 14 or 15. Since then, he has been charged with 55 counts of lewd and lascivious acts with children, and a total of 17 girls have come forward to share their experiences.
The lawsuit accuses the private, all-girls school of negligent supervision, negligent misrepresentation, and inadequate training, stating that the school failed to properly investigate or report prior complaints about the inappropriate behavior of tutor Mark Hodes.
The complaint states that Castilleja School was aware of Hodes' inappropriate behavior as early as 1992-1993 and was on notice that Hodes engaged in highly inappropriate grooming behavior with minor female students, which created a risk he would sexually assault one of them.
The lawsuit adds that at least one Castilleja employee continued to recommend Hodes as a tutor, allowed him to freely access campus unsupervised even though he was not an employee, and chose not to take any further actions to deter his abuse of students.
Jane Doe 1 claims she was abused during the 2012-0213 school year while a middle school student during tutoring sessions. Jane Doe 2 claims she was abused both on campus and at Hodes' home from 2012-2016 while a high school student at Castilleja. Jane Doe 3 alleges she was sexually assaulted from 2007-2011 while a high school student at Castilleja.
The abuse of these students was entirely preventable had the school placed the safety of its students above the reputation of its school.
This lawsuit highlights the critical importance of rigorous oversight and prompt action in educational institutions to protect vulnerable students. It underscores the need for schools to thoroughly investigate and report any suspicions of inappropriate behavior, prioritizing student safety above all else.
The case also raises questions about the responsibility of schools in vetting and monitoring non-employees who have access to students, as well as the potential long-term consequences of failing to address early warning signs of predatory behavior.
In 1997, Hodes was allegedly removed from Palo Alto High School's campus due to sexual abuse of a student. In August 2020, Hodes was arrested on a warrant for nine felony counts of lewd acts with a minor aged 14 or 15. Since then, he has been charged with 55 counts of lewd and lascivious acts with children, and a total of 17 girls have come forward to share their experiences.
