Damascus Brooming Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against MCPS Going to Trial

[Anonymous]

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/05/13/damascus-brooming-lawsuit-locker-room/

What happened inside the locker room several years ago is well-known. Four junior varsity football players at Damascus High School in Maryland set upon their teammates, pinning three of them down and jabbing a broomstick handle into their buttocks.

But should school officials have known the attacks were likely? It’s a question a federal jury will be allowed to weigh after a judge ruled that key claims in a lawsuit against the Montgomery County school system can move forward. The judge’s decision this month is a boost to the victims and their families who have long asserted the attacks were preventable.

“Plaintiffs have put forward evidence that a reasonable jury could conclude that reckless or callous indifference occurred here,” U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte said from the bench.

Attorneys for the families say that school officials knew of at least three, earlier sexual assaults inside Montgomery County high school locker rooms, including an alleged 2017 incident among Damascus football players involving a broomstick that has emerged as perhaps the most critical and contentious part of the litigation. The families also say school officials, partly motivated to protect the powerhouse football program, allowed a player to remain on the JV squad despite his history of violence and sexual harassment, and that they left the JV locker room unchecked for an hour every day between the end of classes and the start of practice.

A football locker room, a broomstick and a sex assault case roil a school

Messitte did not set a trial date, but indicated that if the sides could not reach a settlement, the case could go before jurors for three weeks in February at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt. Potential damages could top $1 million, according to attorneys in the case.

The article is long and has LOTS of good reporting and details worth checking out. MCPS has a toxic culture of folding its hands and DOING NOTHING in the face of kids who misbehave badly. And they also do a lot of box checking, when dealing with kids requires a level of thoroughness and insistence to get to the bottom of the issue.

Between this lawsuit and the one the Marguder Mom Karen Thomas has against MCPS for the shooting of her son at school in the bathroom last year, MCPS's insurer is going to be fed up and raise their premium, which I'm sure will be passed on to us as taxpayers....

[Anonymous]

In addition to suing Crouse and the school system, the families also named as defendants Sullivan, the county wide-athletics director; Joseph Doody, the former Damascus High athletic director; Eric Wallich, the former varsity football coach at Damascus; and Vincent Colbert; the former JV football coach at Damascus. Doody, Wallich and Colbert left their posts after the 2018 assaults.

Baxter, the school system spokeswoman, declined to comment on behalf of Sullivan, Wallich and Crouse. Sullivan remains in his position and Wallich and Crouse are still with the school system in different positions, according to the school system. Colbert could not be reached for comment. Kevin Karpinski, an attorney for Doody, also could not be reached.

This is so concerning to me. Why was Sullivan, Wallich and Colbert allowed to keep their jobs at MCPS after the detail and scope of this incident was unveiled? Especially Wallich and Colbert. Those guys should be unemployable in any organization having to do with youth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/05/13/damascus-brooming-lawsuit-locker-room/

What happened inside the locker room several years ago is well-known. Four junior varsity football players at Damascus High School in Maryland set upon their teammates, pinning three of them down and jabbing a broomstick handle into their buttocks.

But should school officials have known the attacks were likely? It’s a question a federal jury will be allowed to weigh after a judge ruled that key claims in a lawsuit against the Montgomery County school system can move forward. The judge’s decision this month is a boost to the victims and their families who have long asserted the attacks were preventable.

“Plaintiffs have put forward evidence that a reasonable jury could conclude that reckless or callous indifference occurred here,” U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte said from the bench.

Attorneys for the families say that school officials knew of at least three, earlier sexual assaults inside Montgomery County high school locker rooms, including an alleged 2017 incident among Damascus football players involving a broomstick that has emerged as perhaps the most critical and contentious part of the litigation. The families also say school officials, partly motivated to protect the powerhouse football program, allowed a player to remain on the JV squad despite his history of violence and sexual harassment, and that they left the JV locker room unchecked for an hour every day between the end of classes and the start of practice.

A football locker room, a broomstick and a sex assault case roil a school

Messitte did not set a trial date, but indicated that if the sides could not reach a settlement, the case could go before jurors for three weeks in February at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt. Potential damages could top $1 million, according to attorneys in the case.

The article is long and has LOTS of good reporting and details worth checking out. MCPS has a toxic culture of folding its hands and DOING NOTHING in the face of kids who misbehave badly. And they also do a lot of box checking, when dealing with kids requires a level of thoroughness and insistence to get to the bottom of the issue.

Between this lawsuit and the one the Marguder Mom Karen Thomas has against MCPS for the shooting of her son at school in the bathroom last year, MCPS's insurer is going to be fed up and raise their premium, which I'm sure will be passed on to us as taxpayers....

The county is self insured. Taxpayers pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/05/13/damascus-brooming-lawsuit-locker-room/

What happened inside the locker room several years ago is well-known. Four junior varsity football players at Damascus High School in Maryland set upon their teammates, pinning three of them down and jabbing a broomstick handle into their buttocks.

But should school officials have known the attacks were likely? It’s a question a federal jury will be allowed to weigh after a judge ruled that key claims in a lawsuit against the Montgomery County school system can move forward. The judge’s decision this month is a boost to the victims and their families who have long asserted the attacks were preventable.

“Plaintiffs have put forward evidence that a reasonable jury could conclude that reckless or callous indifference occurred here,” U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte said from the bench.

Attorneys for the families say that school officials knew of at least three, earlier sexual assaults inside Montgomery County high school locker rooms, including an alleged 2017 incident among Damascus football players involving a broomstick that has emerged as perhaps the most critical and contentious part of the litigation. The families also say school officials, partly motivated to protect the powerhouse football program, allowed a player to remain on the JV squad despite his history of violence and sexual harassment, and that they left the JV locker room unchecked for an hour every day between the end of classes and the start of practice.

A football locker room, a broomstick and a sex assault case roil a school

Messitte did not set a trial date, but indicated that if the sides could not reach a settlement, the case could go before jurors for three weeks in February at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt. Potential damages could top $1 million, according to attorneys in the case.

The article is long and has LOTS of good reporting and details worth checking out. MCPS has a toxic culture of folding its hands and DOING NOTHING in the face of kids who misbehave badly. And they also do a lot of box checking, when dealing with kids requires a level of thoroughness and insistence to get to the bottom of the issue.

Between this lawsuit and the one the Marguder Mom Karen Thomas has against MCPS for the shooting of her son at school in the bathroom last year, MCPS's insurer is going to be fed up and raise their premium, which I'm sure will be passed on to us as taxpayers....

The county is self insured. Taxpayers pay.

WOW. Did that not know that. Well that sucks even more....

[Anonymous]

I hope it goes to trial and MCPS is SHAMED into doing something more to protect their students; and taking all assault complaints seriously from now on. I applaud the victims' parents for their hard work in the face of so much trauma.

My family is in its 12th year in MCPS (oldest is graduating next month!), and we have been exposed to the best of what MCPS has to offer. But I also follow stories like these, because they show the worst side of MCPS, one where victims are cast aside and perpetrators are protected. Collectively, we really need to put pressure on this sluggish school system to protect our children better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I hope it goes to trial and MCPS is SHAMED into doing something more to protect their students; and taking all assault complaints seriously from now on. I applaud the victims' parents for their hard work in the face of so much trauma.

My family is in its 12th year in MCPS (oldest is graduating next month!), and we have been exposed to the best of what MCPS has to offer. But I also follow stories like these, because they show the worst side of MCPS, one where victims are cast aside and perpetrators are protected. Collectively, we really need to put pressure on this sluggish school system to protect our children better.

That's RJ for you. IMO, it will only get worse with RJ. Kids now there is aren't much consequences to their actions.

My last DC will be a sophmore this fall, and I will be glad to be out of MCPS.

I pay way too much taxes to put up with this BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I hope it goes to trial and MCPS is SHAMED into doing something more to protect their students; and taking all assault complaints seriously from now on. I applaud the victims' parents for their hard work in the face of so much trauma.

My family is in its 12th year in MCPS (oldest is graduating next month!), and we have been exposed to the best of what MCPS has to offer. But I also follow stories like these, because they show the worst side of MCPS, one where victims are cast aside and perpetrators are protected. Collectively, we really need to put pressure on this sluggish school system to protect our children better.

That's RJ for you. IMO, it will only get worse with RJ. Kids now there is aren't much consequences to their actions.

My last DC will be a sophmore this fall, and I will be glad to be out of MCPS.

I pay way too much taxes to put up with this BS.

The Damascus assault was before RJ came to MCPS, so I don't see how you can judge RJ in this context.

[Anonymous]

Also RJ has never been involved in teacher/staff discipline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

In addition to suing Crouse and the school system, the families also named as defendants Sullivan, the county wide-athletics director; Joseph Doody, the former Damascus High athletic director; Eric Wallich, the former varsity football coach at Damascus; and Vincent Colbert; the former JV football coach at Damascus. Doody, Wallich and Colbert left their posts after the 2018 assaults.

Baxter, the school system spokeswoman, declined to comment on behalf of Sullivan, Wallich and Crouse. Sullivan remains in his position and Wallich and Crouse are still with the school system in different positions, according to the school system. Colbert could not be reached for comment. Kevin Karpinski, an attorney for Doody, also could not be reached.

This is so concerning to me. Why was Sullivan, Wallich and Colbert allowed to keep their jobs at MCPS after the detail and scope of this incident was unveiled? Especially Wallich and Colbert. Those guys should be unemployable in any organization having to do with youth.

Agree. It should be concerning to all parents. A strong sign that MCPS does not care about the safety of our kids one bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I hope it goes to trial and MCPS is SHAMED into doing something more to protect their students; and taking all assault complaints seriously from now on. I applaud the victims' parents for their hard work in the face of so much trauma.

My family is in its 12th year in MCPS (oldest is graduating next month!), and we have been exposed to the best of what MCPS has to offer. But I also follow stories like these, because they show the worst side of MCPS, one where victims are cast aside and perpetrators are protected. Collectively, we really need to put pressure on this sluggish school system to protect our children better.

That's RJ for you. IMO, it will only get worse with RJ. Kids now there is aren't much consequences to their actions.

My last DC will be a sophmore this fall, and I will be glad to be out of MCPS.

I pay way too much taxes to put up with this BS.

The Damascus assault was before RJ came to MCPS, so I don't see how you can judge RJ in this context.

No, that's not true at all. They implemented RJ at our elementary school years ago, when my oldest was there. Definitely before the Damascus rape case. I'm calling it rape and not 'brooming' because that is absolutely what it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/05/13/damascus-brooming-lawsuit-locker-room/

What happened inside the locker room several years ago is well-known. Four junior varsity football players at Damascus High School in Maryland set upon their teammates, pinning three of them down and jabbing a broomstick handle into their buttocks.

But should school officials have known the attacks were likely? It’s a question a federal jury will be allowed to weigh after a judge ruled that key claims in a lawsuit against the Montgomery County school system can move forward. The judge’s decision this month is a boost to the victims and their families who have long asserted the attacks were preventable.

“Plaintiffs have put forward evidence that a reasonable jury could conclude that reckless or callous indifference occurred here,” U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte said from the bench.

Attorneys for the families say that school officials knew of at least three, earlier sexual assaults inside Montgomery County high school locker rooms, including an alleged 2017 incident among Damascus football players involving a broomstick that has emerged as perhaps the most critical and contentious part of the litigation. The families also say school officials, partly motivated to protect the powerhouse football program, allowed a player to remain on the JV squad despite his history of violence and sexual harassment, and that they left the JV locker room unchecked for an hour every day between the end of classes and the start of practice.

A football locker room, a broomstick and a sex assault case roil a school

Messitte did not set a trial date, but indicated that if the sides could not reach a settlement, the case could go before jurors for three weeks in February at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt. Potential damages could top $1 million, according to attorneys in the case.

The article is long and has LOTS of good reporting and details worth checking out. MCPS has a toxic culture of folding its hands and DOING NOTHING in the face of kids who misbehave badly. And they also do a lot of box checking, when dealing with kids requires a level of thoroughness and insistence to get to the bottom of the issue.

Between this lawsuit and the one the Marguder Mom Karen Thomas has against MCPS for the shooting of her son at school in the bathroom last year, MCPS's insurer is going to be fed up and raise their premium, which I'm sure will be passed on to us as taxpayers....

I am really glad that the Post took this on and brought it all to light and increased awareness of the incident. I hope the media can do even more of these kinds of stories, since there are so many in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/05/13/damascus-brooming-lawsuit-locker-room/

What happened inside the locker room several years ago is well-known. Four junior varsity football players at Damascus High School in Maryland set upon their teammates, pinning three of them down and jabbing a broomstick handle into their buttocks.

But should school officials have known the attacks were likely? It’s a question a federal jury will be allowed to weigh after a judge ruled that key claims in a lawsuit against the Montgomery County school system can move forward. The judge’s decision this month is a boost to the victims and their families who have long asserted the attacks were preventable.

“Plaintiffs have put forward evidence that a reasonable jury could conclude that reckless or callous indifference occurred here,” U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte said from the bench.

Attorneys for the families say that school officials knew of at least three, earlier sexual assaults inside Montgomery County high school locker rooms, including an alleged 2017 incident among Damascus football players involving a broomstick that has emerged as perhaps the most critical and contentious part of the litigation. The families also say school officials, partly motivated to protect the powerhouse football program, allowed a player to remain on the JV squad despite his history of violence and sexual harassment, and that they left the JV locker room unchecked for an hour every day between the end of classes and the start of practice.

A football locker room, a broomstick and a sex assault case roil a school

Messitte did not set a trial date, but indicated that if the sides could not reach a settlement, the case could go before jurors for three weeks in February at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt. Potential damages could top $1 million, according to attorneys in the case.

The article is long and has LOTS of good reporting and details worth checking out. MCPS has a toxic culture of folding its hands and DOING NOTHING in the face of kids who misbehave badly. And they also do a lot of box checking, when dealing with kids requires a level of thoroughness and insistence to get to the bottom of the issue.

Between this lawsuit and the one the Marguder Mom Karen Thomas has against MCPS for the shooting of her son at school in the bathroom last year, MCPS's insurer is going to be fed up and raise their premium, which I'm sure will be passed on to us as taxpayers....

I am really glad that the Post took this on and brought it all to light and increased awareness of the incident. I hope the media can do even more of these kinds of stories, since there are so many in MCPS.

Yes, I agree. Kudos to WaPo on this one.

[Anonymous]

Those student rapists' names should be published. Colleges and employers should be aware of their actions and not expose their campuses to these immoral people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those student rapists' names should be published. Colleges and employers should be aware of their actions and not expose their campuses to these immoral people.

That would never happen in Montgomery County. Never. The victims suffer and the accused are protected. We see this over and over and over again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those student rapists' names should be published. Colleges and employers should be aware of their actions and not expose their campuses to these immoral people.

I wonder how this stuff stays private given that the kids know who it is. You'd think the names would've leaked at some point....