LEXINGTON, Ky. — Three former students of a Catholic high school in Lexington have sued the school, accusing administrators of failing to discipline those allegedly responsible for acts of sexual harassment and racial discrimination.
Washington-based attorney Amos Jones filed three lawsuits on behalf of the students Tuesday against Lexington Catholic High School, local news outlets reported.
The names or ages of the plaintiffs were not released, but Jones said that one is a white female student who was the victim of sexual harassment and discrimination, and two black male students who were victims of racial harassment.
The incidents date back to 2013, according to court documents.
The civil complaints name administrators, teachers, coaches and students at Lexington Catholic. The school failed to discipline the alleged harassers, in violation of Kentucky’s Civil Rights Act. The lawsuits also accuse the school of fraud, gross negligence and breach of contract.
Lexington Catholic High School vice president for advancement Tim Culver said Tuesday that the school would not comment on legal matters.
According to one lawsuit, the female student was sexually harassed from 2013 to 2014, as students in the school spread rumors that she frequently engaged in sexual acts. The lawsuit states that in one instance, three male students followed the female student and yelled profanities at her, requesting that she perform sexual acts.
Jones said the student “remains suicidal and struggles to this day with emotional problems because of the unchecked and pervasive harassment and bullying.”
The other two students said they were bullied because of their race. One claimed he was called racial slurs. The other said he was sent messages with threats such as: “I’m going to lynch you” and “I’m going to hang you because you’re black.”
Jones added the school’s actions forced the three students to withdraw from the school.
Earlier this year, spokespersons for the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People called on school officials to resign for allegedly mishandling incidents of harassment and bullying, and proposed a training program for parents of students at the school in “white privilege, racial hatred” and racial bias.
