Prestigious Palo Alto Girls’ School Sued for Alleged Cover-Up of Sexual Abuse

A lawsuit has been filed against Castilleja School, a private all-girls institution, by three former students alleging sexual abuse. The legal action, brought by the law firms Cerri, Boskovich & Allard and Mary Alexander & Associates, claims that the school concealed a tutor’s predatory behavior and failed to address complaints about his alleged sexual misconduct with minors.

The lawsuit accuses Castilleja School of negligent supervision, negligent misrepresentation, and inadequate training. It alleges that the school did not properly investigate or report prior complaints about the inappropriate behavior of tutor Mark Hodes.

According to the complaint, Castilleja School was aware of Hodes’ inappropriate behavior as early as 1992-1993. The school was reportedly on notice that Hodes engaged in highly inappropriate grooming behavior with minor female students, creating a risk of sexual assault.

Attorney Lauren Cerri is asking those with information about Hodes or any sexual misconduct incidents at Castilleja to call her office at 408-289-1417.

The lawsuit further claims that at least one Castilleja employee continued to recommend Hodes as a tutor and allowed him unsupervised access to the campus, despite him not being an employee. The school allegedly chose not to take any further actions to prevent his abuse of students.

Three former students, identified as Jane Does, have come forward with allegations:

Jane Doe 1 claims abuse during the 2012-2013 school year while a middle school student.
Jane Doe 2 alleges abuse both on campus and at Hodes’ home from 2012-2016 while a high school student.
Jane Doe 3 reports sexual assault from 2007-2011 while a high school student.

The lawsuit argues that the abuse of these students could have been prevented if the school had prioritized student safety over its reputation.

This case underscores the critical importance of rigorous oversight and prompt action in educational institutions to protect vulnerable students. It highlights the need for schools to thoroughly investigate and report any suspicions of inappropriate behavior, prioritizing student safety above all else.

The lawsuit 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, he 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.