Ohio High School Faces Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit

Ursuline High School in Youngstown, Ohio, is facing a federal civil rights lawsuit following serious allegations related to a sports camp incident. According to court documents, a former football player claims he was subjected to sexual assault during a soccer camp in June.

The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Ohio, names the school, several officials, soccer coaches, and the local Catholic parish as defendants. It also includes several unnamed players and parents.

Represented by Chandra Law Office, the plaintiff’s mother alleges that her son was sexually assaulted during a nine-day trip that took place across multiple states, including Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama. The boy, who is not identified, was a freshman on the football team. It’s claimed that he was assaulted on the first night of the camp by another player, who then filmed the act and shared it on a group Snapchat. This was not an isolated incident; the lawsuit states that on the fourth day of the camp, he was assaulted again by multiple players.

Details in the complaint suggest that after the initial assault, the boy faced ongoing bullying and harassment. The school officials reportedly failed to respond adequately to his complaints, with the coach allegedly minimizing the accusations by stating “he’s just a boy.”

The mother initially raised concerns with the assistant coach on June 16, but claims her concerns were dismissed. She later met with school officials upon her son’s return, and asserts that they showed no empathy for the situation.

A spokesperson for Ursuline High School confirmed that there is an ongoing police investigation into the allegations. The school’s representatives are cooperating with the investigation.

The lawsuit also accuses the school of neglect in not conducting a proper investigation or taking meaningful disciplinary action against those involved, even after evidence was presented. There are additional claims of Title IX violations and various other offenses, such as child pornography and false incarceration.

According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, Subodh Chandra, this case highlights the need for accountability. He remarked on the trauma the family has endured, asserting that the school staff has made excuses rather than addressing the issues. The family has also reportedly faced retaliation for filing the complaint.

Ursuline’s statement emphasizes that student safety is a top priority and that they have initiated their investigation upon receiving the report of misconduct. They mentioned that some disciplinary actions had been imposed, although some students left before these measures were enforced.

In light of these events, the school has increased safety protocols, including the presence of chaperones and mandatory training for staff, following the allegations. It’s worth noting that a soccer match that was scheduled for Friday has been canceled as a result of the incident.