HARRISBURG – A former Chambersburg Area School District student alleges she was a victim of sexual assault and has filed a suit against the school and other individuals over its handling of the matter.
Jane Doe filed a complaint on May 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against Chambersburg Area School District, Cathy Dusman, Joseph Padasak, Katherine Barnhart, Jeffrey Hand and John Does 1-5 alleging violation of the 14th Amendment, sexual harassment, retaliation and other counts.
According to the complaint, Hand was employed by the school district as its soccer coach and is a licensed therapist. Doe alleges Hand sexually assaulted her when she was 17 and that he began grooming her when she was 16.
The plaintiff alleges the first incident was in September 2016 when the plaintiff was at Hands parents’ home and the plaintiff had been plied with alcohol. A few days later, the plaintiff alleges she was injured while playing soccer at her school and she was fondled by Hand while being assisted off the field. She alleges the defendant’s behavior continued until Dec. 13, 2016.
Hand was convicted of felony institutional sexual assault and felony corruption of minors on Feb. 7, 2018, and sentenced to at least a year in prison.
The plaintiff alleges the school district did not notify Pennsylvania State Police of accusations that Hand had assaulted another student prior to 2016. She also alleges she was retaliated against after reporting Hand engaged in sexual intercourse with her.
The plaintiff is seeking all reasonable sums due, attorney fees and court costs. The plaintiff is represented by Robert A. Bracken of Bracken Law Firm LLC in Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 1:19-CV-00895