A school in Washington state will pay more than $2 million to settle a case on a former student alleging grooming and sexual abuse by a former coach.
Seattle Preparatory School said in a statement that the lawsuit filed by the former student was filed in 2022 and involved incidents that took place more than 20 years ago.
KING-TV in Seattle reported Thursday that the former student sued Seattle Preparatory in 2022, alleging the school "willfully turned a blind eye" to the former coach's actions off of the field. The school previously denied the allegation.
In a statement, Seattle Prep said the school resolved the case last month to pay a $2.425 million settlement.
"A former Prep coach and teacher had an inappropriate relationship with a former student which largely transpired after the student had matriculated. Over the last several years, Seattle Prep and our attorneys have cooperated and followed due process," according to the statement. "Furthermore, Seattle Prep has in place the necessary and required safety programs and practices that put the safety of our students first. At all times, Seattle Prep treated the plaintiff with compassion and respect. One aspect of that treatment was an agreement to honor the plaintiff's confidentiality."
The school said tuition, donor funds and assets were not used to settle the case.
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The former coach, who went on to become the school's athletics director, worked as at Seattle Prep from 1992 to 2006 and reportedly harassed several female students, according to the release.
Throughout her high school career, the student alleges she was “groomed, harassed and sexually abused” by her former softball coach, according to a new release about the settlement.
The former coach routinely violated the boundaries of the former student, the release states, by being “flirtatious and overly attentive.” He also isolated her for one-on-one meetings, called and texted her at night and attended unofficial team bonding events, according to the release.
KING-TV did not name the coach because they were not charged with a crime.
