The parents of an alleged sex abuse victim are suing the boy's school district, saying that administrators were guilty of outrageous and reckless negligence in failing to prevent the abuse. The complaint alleges that the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District in Fairbanks, Alaska, disregarded warning signs that the tutor was a sexual predator. The family's attorney says they are seeking more than $100,000 in punitive damages to prevent other children from being victimized, by deterring school administrators from covering up for employees.
Former tutor Claude Fowlkes, 34-years-old, faces seven felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor. According to The Fairbanks Daily News Miner, a local news outlet, Fowlkes was recorded discussing the abuse with the victim, who was wearing a hidden microphone. He allegedly raped the 15-year-old boy multiple times on school property. The boy says Fowlkes gave him Amazon gift cards after assaulting him, the newspaper reports.
The attorney of the victim's family says that Fairbanks North Star Borough School District's superintendent, Pete Lewis, defended Fowlkes and maintained him as a district employee even after multiple reports of alleged inappropriate behavior toward students. Lewis has since been fired by the school board.
"Significant allegations and observations of 'grooming' and other alarming behavior with students were either not understood or were not dealt with in a serious manner," board president Heidi Haas said at a meeting, the News Miner reports.
If you or a family member has been the victim of sexual assault or abuse and you believe an individual or organization in Missouri is to blame, you may have the right to seek damages and should contact experienced attorneys as soon as possible. Meet with the free consultation lawyers of Meyers Law Firm for an assessment of your claim and a chance at recovering any civil damages to which you may be entitled.