CHICAGO — A group of Chicago Public Schools students have filed suit against the school district, saying the district should pay for allegedly allowing a PE teacher to sexually abuse them and other students for years.
Chicago Board of Education, Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary School, Chicago Public School District 299 and Andrew Castro were all named as defendants in the suit.
Jane Doe and Jack Doe filed the lawsuit on behalf of three minors, John Doe and James Doe, and Jill Roe, on behalf of minor Joe Roe, all alleged they were sexually abused by Castro for years, according to a complaint filed Oct. 23 in Chicago federal court.
The case involves minor plaintiffs Does and Roe. The plaintiffs allege Castro, a PE teacher employed by the Board of Education, allegedly targeted these vulnerable children for sexual abuse.
Castro has been criminally charged in connection with the sex abuse allegations.
Castro allegedly groomed the minor plaintiffs by engaging in conversations about their family lives during PE classes. He invited them to soccer matches, outings and his home, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs claim Castro provided gifts, took them out and communicated with them electronically. He allegedly coerced the boys into explicit games and sexual acts, taking advantage of their embarrassment and financial dependence on him.
Despite faculty and student awareness, school officials failed to intervene or report the situation, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of $100,000 and punitive damages. They are represented by Patrycja R. Karlin in Chicago.