Case 8:17-cv-03325-PX Document 11 Filed 11/09/17 Page 1 of 15

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND

JANE DOE, by and through

her Guardian, individually,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No.: V435268

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD

OF EDUCATION,

Defendant.

AMENDED COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff, JANE DOE, by and through her Guardian, individually, by and through the

undersigned counsel, and pursuant to Maryland Rule 2-341(e) hereby files this Amended

Complaint against Defendant, MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC BOARD OF

EDUCATION, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, and alleges as follows:

NATURE OF THE ACTION

1. Plaintiff filed this action on August 10, 2016. Plaintiff has not yet served

Complaint on Defendant. Pursuant to Maryland Rule 2-341(e), a red-lined comparison copy

reflecting the changes to the Amended Complaint is attached as Exhibit A. This action

arises out of the sexual abuse of a student by a school teacher, and Defendants' utter failure

to protect the student from the abuse even as the Principal of the school and Chief Operating

Officer of the School Board became aware of the teacher's repeated acts of sexual

harassment and assault of students under his care and control.

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2. Plaintiff, JANE DOE, is a minor female, born in November of 2004, who is a

citizen and resident of Crownsville, Maryland. Plaintiff is identified in this lawsuit by the

pseudonym JANE DOE ("JANE DOE"), in that this case involves facts of the utmost

intimacy regarding Plaintiff's childhood sexual abuse, and Plaintiff fears ffirther

psychological injury if her name were publicly disclosed.

3. Guardian is sui juris and an adult resident of Crownsville, Maryland. She is

the legal guardian of JANE DOE.

4. At all times material to this cause of action, Defendant MONTGOMERY

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ("SCHOOL BOARD") was an entity organized and

existing under the laws of Maryland, with its principal office located at 850 Hungerford

Drive, Rockville MD 20850. The SCHOOL BOARD, at all relevant times, operated the

Montgomery County Public Schools.

5. Defendant SCHOOL BOARD is charged with the operation and control of

public kindergarten-12th grade education within the Montgomery County Schools. Joshua P.

Starr was the Superintendent of the Schools and managed its day-to-day operations from

2011 to 2014. After Joshua Starr's tenure, Larry A. Bowers, the Chief Operating Officer, was

appointed interim superintendent in 2014. In 2015, Dr. Jack Smith was appointed as the

superintendent. The SCHOOL BOARD operates, controls, and maintains Cloverly

Elementary School ("the School") in Montgomery County, Florida. JANE DOE was a

student at the School at all relevant times.

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6. Plaintiff seeks damages of not less than $5 million, which is in excess of the

$25,000 jurisdictional minimum of this Court, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorneys'

fees.

7. The acts and conduct giving rise to liability in this case occurred in

Montgomery County, Maryland.

8. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Section

1-501 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the Maryland Annotated Code.

9. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant because Defendant is

domiciled in the state of Maryland. See MD. CODE ANN., CTS. & JUD. PROC. § 6-

102(a).

FACTS COMMON TO ALL COUNTS

10. At all times relevant to this lawsuit, Jane Doe was a student enrolled in

Cloverly Elementary School.

11. At all times relevant to this lawsuit, JOHN VIGNA was employed as a teacher

of Cloverly Elementary School by the SCHOOL BOARD.

12. At all times relevant to this lawsuit, LARRY A. BOWERS was employed by

the SCHOOL BOARD.

A. Actual Notice of Sexual Harassment to Principal and Interim Superintendent and

the School's Deliberate Indifference in Response to Actual Notice

13. On February 28, 2008, it was brought to the attention of the Principal, Melissa

Brunson ("Brunson") that JOHN VIGNA was placing students on his lap.

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14. Brunson met with JOHN VIGNA and reprimanded him for placing his

students on his lap. JOHN VIGNA admitted his wrongdoing to Brunson. Brunson gave

JOHN VIGNA a verbal warning to desist from placing students on his lap.

15. On May 30, 2008, Brunson was informed that once again, JOHN VIGNA

continued to place students on his lap, regardless of her verbal warning. Upon learning of

JOHN VIGNA' s continual sexual harassment of his students, Brunson only recommended in

writing that he avail himself of the services provided by the Employees Assistance Program.

16. In 2013, Larry A. Bowers ("Bowers"), who was the Chief Operating Officer at

the time, became aware of similar allegations of JOHN VIGNA placing students on his lap,

and lifting students in the air during class.

17. Upon information and belief, an investigation was conducted into the 2013

allegations. Pending the investigation, JOHN VIGNA was removed from the classroom for a

period of 3 weeks.

18. JOHN VIGNA made a written statement promising to "make every effort to

not have any physical contact" with his students.

19. Once the investigation was complete, Bowers issued JOHN VIGNA another

letter of reprimand for the same sexual misconduct reported twice in 2008, placing students

on his lap. Bowers "strongly suggested" in his letter, that JOHN VIGNA seek assistance with

the school administration.

20. Despite the serious allegations and JOHN VIGNA' s apparent disregard for the

prior reprimands, he was permitted to return to work unrestricted after only three weeks of

investigation.
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21. The second letter of reprimand suggesting assistance, without more, was a

clearly unreasonable response after receiving three distinct allegations of sexual harassment

and assault of students by JOHN VIGNA, not reasonably intended to remedy the misconduct.

22. Upon information and belief, due to Brunson' s concerns, JOHN VIGNA was

then transferred from a fifth grade classroom located in a portable, to a third grade classroom

located in a room inside the main school building near the front office.

23. Brunson's response to the allegations of sexual assault of moving JOHN

VIGNA to a third grade class closer to the front office was detrimental to the students under

his care. Firstly, though JOHN VIGNA was closer to the front office, this was a futile

corrective measure since he was not being supervised and, as a result, continued to sexually

assault, abuse or harass his students, including JANE DOE. Secondly, third grade students

are a more vulnerable population susceptible to grooming and sexual abuse; therefore,

Brunson's remedial measure was not only unreasonable, but also facilitated JOHN VIGNA' s

predatory intentions.

24. As a result of the SCHOOL BOARD' s failure to properly investigate,

supervise and protect students in response to actual notice, it needlessly endangered students,

resulting in the continued sexual abuse of JANE DOE.

B. Sexual Harassment and Abuse of JANE DOE

25. Upon information and belief, during the 2013 to 2014 school year, JOHN

VIGNA was JANE DOE's third grade teacher at Cloverly Elementary School.

26. Upon information and belief, during JANE DOE' s third grade year, JOHN

VIGNA sexually harassed, assaulted, and abused JANE DOE on several occasions. The
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sexual abuse included placing Jane Doe on his lap while he played a movie, and rubbing her

thighs, vagina, and buttocks almost daily over her clothes. On the days JANE DOE wore

skirts, his hands would be directly over her underwear while he committed these sexual

improprieties.

27. Upon information and belief, in JANE DOE's fourth and fifth grade year, she

attended JOHN VIGNA's class to assist him with his third grade students. JOHN VIGNA

also enticed JANE DOE to go to his classroom by buying her candy, gifts, books and paying

for field trips. JANE DOE visited JOHN VIGNA's classroom daily during lunch or right

before dismissal.

28. Upon information and belief, during her fourth and fifth grade years, JOHN

VIGNA' s sexual abuse of JANE DOE intensified. The sexual abuse included digital

penetration of JANE DOE's vagina while wearing a skirt, over her underwear, fondling of

JANE DOE's vagina under her clothes, attempting to stimulate her while making skin to skin

contact, and simulating sexual intercourse while JANE DOE sat on his lap. JANE DOE

recalls feeling JOHN VIGNA's erect penis while he simulated sexual intercourse and rubbed

against her vagina and buttocks.

29. JANE DOE was digitally penetrated on at least three different occasions, each

time lasting longer than the other. JANE DOE also recalls JOHN VIGNA' s curled finger

penetrating further into her vagina by the third time.

30. JANE DOE did not disclose the sexual abuse by JOHN VIGNA until 2016,

when she attended a "body safety" class. Upon learning of "good touch" and "bad touch,"

she informed her school counselor of JOHN VIGNA's repeated acts of sexual abuse.
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31. After the sexual abuse had been disclosed and reported to the authorities,

JOHN VIGNA was convicted of third degree sex offenses against four minors, including

JANE DOE.

COUNT I - VIOLATION OF TITLE IX, EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972 -

20 U.S.C. 41681 ET SEQ. AGAINST THE SCHOOL BOARD

32. Plaintiff, JANE DOE readopts and realleges all of the allegations set forth in

Paragraphs 1 through 31 as though fully set forth herein.

33. At all relevant times, Defendant SCHOOL BOARD received federal financial

assistance.

34. Plaintiff JANE DOE had a right to not be subject to sexual discrimination,

harassment or abuse while she attended Cloverly Elementary School.

35. SCHOOL BOARD, through its agents and representatives, had actual notice

that JOHN VIGNA was sexually harassing, sexually assaulting and or sexually abusing

students. This included the School's Principal, Melissa Brunson, and Chief Operating

Officer, Larry A. Bowers, being informed twice in 2008 and once in 2013 about JOHN

VIGNA's common practice of having students sit on his lap. This placed the SCHOOL

BOARD on actual notice of JOHN VIGNA' s propensity to commit sexual harassment,

sexual assault and, or sexual abuse upon JANE DOE and other students.

36. Brunson and Bowers, and other SCHOOL BOARD officials with actual

notice, had the responsibility to conduct a prompt, reliable, thorough, and impartial

investigation into all of the allegations of sexual harassment and sexual abuse of students by

JOHN VIGNA, which they failed to do upon receiving multiple complaints about JOHN

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VIGNA' s sexual harassment of studenis in 2008 and in 2013. Brunson, Bowers, and other

SCHOOL BOARD officials with actual notice, had authority to address the acts of sexual

harassment of students by JOHN VIGNA and institute corrective measures. Instead, even as

to the allegations that they chose to investigate, no meaningful disciplinary action or

corrective measures were instituted by the SCHOOL BOARD, and any that were instituted,

were perfunctory, superficial, insufficient and wholly inadequate to address the misconduct

and protect students, including JANE DOE. Consequently, any corrective measures taken by

SCHOOL BOARD were clearly unreasonable and constituted deliberate indifference.

37. The decisions of Brunson, Bowers, and SCHOOL BOARD to allow JOHN

VIGNA unfettered contacts with JANE DOE, and other students, subsequent to the above-

described notice of sexual harassment of students, without instituting any meaningful

corrective measures, were official decisions to ignore the danger of sexual harassment, sexual

assault and or sexual abuse to the children in their care.

38. Brunson and Bowers knew that JOHN VIGNA had sexually harassed and

sexually assaulted the students in his class by placing students on his lap despite the various

reprimands, and as a direct and proximate result of their deliberate indifference and failure to

act, JOHN VIGNA continued to sexually assault and sexually abuse JANE DOE on school

grounds.

39. In response to actual notice provided on different occasions that JOHN

VIGNA sexually harassed and sexually assaulted students in his class, Brunson, Bowers and

SCHOOL BOARD could have instituted any of a number of corrective measures that would

have prevented any sexual harassment or sexual abuse of students on school grounds
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including without limitation, (i) termination of JOIN VIGNA; (ii) long-term suspension of

JOHN VIGNA; (iii) reassigning JOHN VIGNA to another position where he would have no

direct contact with students; (iv) reassigning JOHN VIGNA to another position where he

would have no authority over students; (v) reassigning JOHN VIGNA to another position

with older students more likely to report inappropriate behavior and better capable of

protecting themselves; (vi) assigning staff to monitor JOHN VIGNA' s activities on school

grounds; (vii) utilizing surveillance equipment to monitor JOHN VIGNA's activities on

school grounds; (viii) notifying students and parents/guardians of JOHN VIGNA' s conduct

and its inappropriateness so that students might be more cautious when coming in contact

with him and more comfortable reporting any further suspected sexual harassment or sexual

abuse; and/or (ix) implementing any such other measures reasonably intended or designed to

protect students at the School, including JANE DOE, from sexual harassment or sexual

abuse. Despite receipt of actual notice, Brunson, Bowers, SCHOOL BOARD, and their

agents and representatives, acted with deliberate indifference in failing to institute any of the

above-mentioned corrective measures.

40. As a result of this gross failure to act, JANE DOE was sexually harassed,

sexually abused, and sexually assaulted on school grounds.

41. As a direct and proximate result of the SCHOOL BOARD's deliberate

indifference in response to actual notice, Plaintiff JANE DOE has suffered severe

psychological, emotional and physical injuries, and emotional distress arising out of the

physical injuries, pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, loss of capacity for the

enjoyment of life, inability to lead a normal life, shame, humiliation and regression, costs
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associated with medical/psychological care and treatment. Alternatively, Plaintiff sustained

an aggravation of an existing disease or mental or physical defect or activation of a latent

condition and the same losses associated with such. The injuries and damages are permanent

and continuing in nature and the Plaintiff will suffer such losses in the future.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff JANE DOE respectfully requests that this Court enter

judgment against the SCHOOL BOARD, and award all damages including compensatory

damages and special damages, costs, interest, attorneys' fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1988 in

an amount in excess of $75,000, the precise amount to be established at trial, and any other

relief that this Court deems just and proper.

Count II- Negligence

42. Plaintiff, JANE DOE readopts and realleges all of the allegations set forth in

Paragraphs 1 through 31 as though fully set forth herein.

43. SCHOOL BOARD was in a "special relationship" with JANE DOE, such that

it had a duty to protect JANE DOE from foreseeable harm on school grounds and during

school-related activities. In this regard, SCHOOL BOARD was in loco parentis with the

School's students, including JANE DOE. At all material times, SCHOOL BOARD owed a

duty to protect, and ensure the safety, care, well-being and health of the minor JANE DOE

while she was under the care, custody or in the presence of the School. These duties

encompassed the protection of JANE DOE from harm by a School employee, and otherwise

providing a safe environment for JANE DOE while on School premises.

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44. Defendant was in a "special relationship" with JOHN VIGNA of employer-

employee, such that it had a duty to take steps to make sure that JOHN VIGNA was safe

before giving him access to students.

45. Defendant knew or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known that

JOHN VIGNA was dangerous and a threat to the health, safety and welfare of his students,

including JANE DOE.

46. Defendant had a duty in hiring, retaining and supervising JOHN VIGNA to

prevent foreseeable harm to students and prevent educator sexual misconduct.

47. Defendant by and through its agents, servants, and employees, knew or should

have known of JOHN VIGNA's dangerous sexual propensities, and that he was unfit to serve

in any position within the School involving contact with students.

48. Despite the SCHOOL BOARD' s knowledge of JOHN VIGNA's dangerous

sexual propensities as described above, Defendant breached its duty to protect JANE DOE by

allowing JOHN VIGNA to serve as a teacher, giving him access to young students despite

knowing of his dangerous sexual propensities, and by failing to institute any supervision of

JOHN VIGNA's contact with students.

49. Defendant breached its duties by failing to protect the minor, JANE DOE,

from sexual assault, harassment and abuse committed upon JANE DOE while she was

present on school grounds, during school hours, or during school-related activities.

50. At all relevant times, Defendant breached its duty in retaining and supervising

JOHN VIGNA, which placed JOHN VIGNA in a position to sexually harass, assault and

abuse JANE DOE.

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51. As a direct and proximate result of SCHOOL BOARD's breach of its duty

relating to the retention and supervision of JOHN VIGNA, whom the Defendant knew posed

a foreseeable risk of sexual misconduct with his students, JANE DOE was sexually harassed,

assaulted, and abused by JOHN VIGNA while attending the School.

52. Given the actual and constructive knowledge of the SCHOOL BOARD

concerning the dangerous propensities of JOHN VIGNA, the sexual abuse of JANE DOE

was reasonably foreseeable to the SCHOOL BOARD.

53. With such actual and constructive knowledge, the SCHOOL BOARD retained

JOHN VIGNA, and failed to adequately supervise his acts and conduct with students,

needlessly endangering JANE DOE's health and safety.

54. Because the SCHOOL BOARD was acting in loco parentis, it had a duty to

warn JANE DOE's guardian(s) that JOHN VIGNA posed a risk of harm to JANE DOE, and

to otherwise inform her guardian(s) of relevant information in their possession or control

concerning the sexual misconduct of JOHN VIGNA.

55. The SCHOOL BOARD breached its duty in failing to warn JANE DOE'S

guardian(s) about JOHN VIGNA.

56. At all relevant times, the SCHOOL BOARD created an environment which

fostered educator sexual misconduct with the children it had a duty to protect, including

JANE DOE.

57. At all relevant times, the SCHOOL BOARD had inadequate policies and

procedures to protect children they were entrusted to care for and protect, including JANE

DOE.
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58. At all relevant times, the SCHOOL BOARD failed to adequately train staff in

protecting children from educator sexual misconduct.

59. The SCHOOL BOARD' s negligent acts and omissions reflect a recklessness

and conscious disregard for the safety and well-being of female students, including JANE

DOE.

60. As a direct and proximate result of the SCHOOL BOARD' s negligence,

Plaintiff JANE DOE has suffered severe psychological, emotional and physical injuries, and

emotional distress arising out of the physical injuries, pain and suffering, mental anguish,

inconvenience, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, inability to lead a normal life,

shame, humiliation and regression, costs associated with medical/psychological care and

treatment. Alternatively, Plaintiff sustained an aggravation of an existing disease or mental

or physical defect or activation of a latent condition and the same losses associated with

such. The injuries and damages are permanent and continuing in nature and the Plaintiff will

suffer such losses in the future.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff JANE DOE respectfully requests, for purposes of the

negligent count only, that this Court enter judgment against the SCHOOL BOARD and

award all damages including compensatory damages and special damages any other relief

that this Court deems just and proper not in an amount not to exceed $100,000.

JURY TRIAL DEMAND

Plaintiff hereby requests a trial by jury on all issues contained in this Complaint.

Dated:
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STEVEN J. KELLY
SILVERMAN THOMPSON SLUTKIN & WHITE
LLC
201 N. Charles Street, Suite 2600
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(410) 385-2225
Fax: (410) 547-2432
skelly@mdattorncy.com

Counsel for Plaintiffs

Jeffrey M. Herman, pending pro hoc vice

admission
Florida Bar No. 521647
Herman Law
3351 NW Boca Raton Blvd.
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Tel: 305-931-2200
Fax: 305-931-0877
jhennan hermanlaw.com

Krisel McSweeney, pending pro hoc vice

admission
Florida Bar No.: 112637
Herman Law
3351 NW Boca Raton Blvd.
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Tel: 305-931-2200
Fax: 305-931-0877
KMcSweenevq,:phermanlaw.com

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on the 3rd day of October, 2017, I will serve the foregoing

Amended Complaint upon Defendant along with the Summons, original Complaint and all

other pleadings filed in this matter to date.

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