Overview
- The 90-page civil lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Kendall County Circuit Court, accuses the district of reckless disregard for student safety and failing to act on early warnings.
- Plaintiffs allege former teacher and coach Sean Staffeldt groomed and sexually harassed students from roughly 2012 to 2020, including when they were minors.
- The complaint says the district issued Staffeldt a 2017 written warning restricting physical contact and allowed him to keep teaching and coaching until a 2020 investigation preceded his resignation.
- Staffeldt told the Chicago Tribune he denies the allegations, and plaintiffs’ attorneys say they are not aware of any criminal prosecution to date.
- The women seek damages and policy changes including mandatory training on grooming behaviors and stronger victim supports, and their lawyers are urging other potential victims to come forward.