PHILADELPHIA - The Church Farm School (CFS) in Exton faces civil charges from a North Carolina man who says he was sexually abused by a former CFS teacher, according to documents filed earlier this year in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
On March 5, CFS removed to federal court the lawsuit of plaintiff Christopher Sinclair, who was a boarding student at the school from 2008-2010 when he was 12 to 14 years old. He lived in a residential cottage where then-teacher Marc Spera acted as a dorm parent.
Sinclair accuses Spera of sexually abusing him at least 40 different times and giving out free candy, grades that did not reflect Sinclair's academic performance and inappropriate gifts such as a video game console.
Following the pattern of exploitive behaviors, Spera allegedly forced Sinclair into a series of sexual acts against his will, including watching pornographic materials, kissing, masturbation and oral sex.
According to the lawsuit, other dorm parents and members of the CFS administration were aware of the unusual amount of time that the plaintiff spent alone with the defendant.
The documents say that Spera is no longer a CFS educator as of 2010. He was arrested last year.
Sinclair sued the school for negligence, childhood sexual abuse and vicarious liability, negligent supervision and punitive damages. He asks the court for at least $50,000 in restitution form the defendant.
The plaintiff is represented by Goldberg, Goldberg and Maloney.