EXCLUSIVE: Rogers asks Commissioners to “drop this frivolous appeal”

Photo: Lycoming County Commissioners (L-R) Rick Mirabito, Scott Metzger, Tony Mussare and

Lycoming County Controller Krista Rogers.

Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

Friday morning, Lycoming County Controller, Krista B. Rogers issued a press release urging the Lycoming County Commissioners to “drop this frivolous appeal and get out of the way so I can do my job, for you.”

Lycoming County Commissioners recently decided 2-1 to pursue an appeal of their latest defeat in this ongoing power struggle for the fiscal watchdog responsibility in Lycoming County.

In a recent public meeting, the Lycoming County Commissioners claimed the entire battle was kicked off due to Rogers “threat” to pull her signature from checks thus shutting down County government.

As Judge Leete eloquently explained in his OPINION and ORDER, the “threat” had to be followed though upon for actual damages to have occurred.

Even if Rogers had followed through on the “threat” of pulling her signature, according to recently filed court documents on behalf of Lycoming County she may have an “immunity” claim anyway.

From the Motion to Dismiss in the John Doe #1 Federal Lawsuit verses multiple Defendants, “AND NOW comes the Defendant, Lycoming County (“the County”) by and through its counsel, Lavery Law, Frank J. Lavery, Jr., Esquire and Andrew W. Norfleet, Esquire. “…the County has immunity from Plaintiff’s state law claims under the Pennsylvania Tort Claims Act.”

“81. Viewing the factual allegations in a light most favorable to Plaintiff, he failed to plausibly plead a claim for “civil conspiracy” against the County because, if Defendant Weber was an employee of the County, the County cannot be liable for an alleged unlawful act under §1983 secondary under a theory of respondeat superior.”

According to legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com, the definition of respondeat superior is as follows:

“It provides a better chance for an injured party to actually recover damages, because under respondeat superior the employer is liable for the injuries caused by an employee who is working within the scope of his employment relationship. The legal relationship between an employer and an employee is called agency. The employer is called the principal when engaging someone to act for him. The person who does the work for the employer is called the agent. The theory behind respondeat superior is that the principal controls the agent’s behavior and must then assume some responsibility for the agent’s actions.”

As a duly elected official Rogers draws a paycheck from Lycoming County.

However, is she an “employee” as the Lycoming County Commissioners continue to treat her?

If in fact, they treat her as an “employee” would she then not be entitled to the same “immunity” as former Lycoming County Detective Willie Weber?

Furthermore, as the Lycoming County Commissioners have made abundantly clear in their pounding on tables in public meetings claiming “she (Rogers) knows who holds the power, it’s in the County Code”; followed with “we are ultimately responsible.”

So, if the Lycoming County Commissioners continue to file appeals in the Rogers case; does that open them up further for additional damages in the John Doe #1 Federal lawsuit verses multiple Defendants including former Lycoming County Detective Willie Weber?

Or, do the Lycoming County Commissioners who claim they are “ultimately responsible”; only believe immunity is selective for folks like Weber and not Rogers?

On background, Lycoming County Commissioner Scott Metzger served as a Little League World Series team host (Uncle) this past August, along with former Lycoming County Detective Willie Weber.

Weber retired the same day the Office of Attorney General Search Warrant Affidavits were unsealed in the 2018 WAHS/Myrtle Beach criminal sexual misconduct case which is the genesis of the John Doe #1 Federal lawsuit verses multiple Defendants including Weber.

The entire Rogers Press Release is provided below.

Controller’s Office
48 WEST THIRD STREET
WILLIAMSPORT, PA 17701
TELEPHONE: (570) 327-2295
FAX: (570) 327-2446
Krista B. Rogers
Controller
Nicki S. Gottschall
Deputy Controller
Rudolph Clarke, LLC
Solicitor

PRESS RELEASE

Williamsport, PA— 12/16/2022 — “The County Commissioners are wasting taxpayer dollars.”

“Why don’t the Commissioners let you do your job?”

“What are the Commissioners afraid of?”

That is what I have heard from you, the taxpayers of Lycoming County, during the last few years of this litigation with the Commissioners. I would smile, nod, and say, “I agree,” or “That is something you will really have to ask them,” and “All I know for sure is they are simply not following the law.”

Now, after the Commissioners have lost in Court for a third time, we all know that the Commissioners were not following the law.

As the Senior Judge stated “they usurped the Controller’s staff and functions.”

However, I see that the Commissioners have still not learned their lesson. Worse yet, they have emotionally lashed out in the media and during the County meeting like petulant children, misrepresenting the litigation, the state of the County fiscal records and of course, attacking me personally.

Now the Commissioners have vowed to waste more taxpayers’ money so they can lose again, this time in the Appeals Court. I wish I could say I was surprised. However, the record must be set straight and it is way past time for this silliness to end.

Let me state these four (4) facts clearly:

1. The Commissioners have lost three times, and will lose yet again in their frivolous Appeal. As pointed out by the Senior Judge, they are ignoring what is clear in the law. The County Controller is the duly elected fiscal watchdog, period, end of story. They have wasted tens of thousands of dollars ignoring the law, and their bruised egos are now prepared to waste thousands more taxpayer dollars.

2. After years of the Commissioners’ illegitimately seized control, the County fiscal records are sadly in shambles. Staff is leaving left and right, and the Commissioners have fallen behind years in their legal reporting responsibilities, putting County finances at grave risk. Once my staff and functions are inevitably returned to my Office, as the Senior Judge ordered, it is going to take my office many months and thousands and thousands more of your hard earned dollars to right this ship. It must happen now.

3. The Commissioners must drop this frivolous appeal now, stop wasting taxpayers’ money and putting the County finances in further jeopardy. As the Senior Judge emphatically stated in his Opinion and Order, “the Commissioners lack the
legal authority to usurp the functions and staff of the Controller; we now also know that they lack the ability to perform those functions correctly.” My office and I must fix the County fiscal records right now.

4. Finally, I can take the personal attacks from the Commissioners; I am used to it by now. However, in the December 8th County meeting, the Commissioners histrionic attacks on the Senior Judge, the law, and me were patently false and they know it.

The Commissioners knew all too well that I was not present at the County meeting because I was mourning my daughter, whose 30th birthday would have been that day, had she not tragically passed away less than one month before. For the Commissioners to personally bash my family and me on that day is reprehensible. However, what they do not realize is this: their emotional response to the Senior Judge’s well-reasoned and straightforward Order makes it clear that they know they are wrong. I have known it all along and I hope you, the taxpayers of Lycoming County know it now as well.

Thank you for the support, the words of encouragement and the privilege to serve as the County’s fiscal watchdog all these years. I will continue to do what I swore to do, follow the law and safeguard your hard-earned taxpayer dollars.

Please join me in urging the County Commissioners to do the same, to drop this frivolous appeal and get out of the way so I can do my job, for you.

##########

Krista Rogers, Controller, 570-327-2300 or krogers@lyco.or

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

 

Previous Reporting:

https://talkwilliamsport.com/lycoming-county-commissioners-in-split-decision-set-to-appeal-court-loss-in-case-brought-by-krista-rogers-lycoming-county-controller/

 

https://talkwilliamsport.com/exclusive-lc-controller-krista-rogers-issues-statement-after-court-victory-over-commissioners/

 

https://talkwilliamsport.com/lcc-respond-to-recent-court-loss-with-defiant-statement/

 

https://talkwilliamsport.com/exclusive-lycoming-county-controller-files-case-to-compel-commissioners-to-comply-with-pa-law/

 

https://talkwilliamsport.com/lycoming-county-commissioners-respond-to-lycoming-county-controller-claims/

 

https://talkwilliamsport.com/lycoming-county-commissioners-double-down-against-controller-after-catastrophic-court-case-loss/

 

https://talkwilliamsport.com/the-stakes-in-legal-case-between-the-commissioners-and-lycoming-county-controller-just-went-up/

 

https://talkwilliamsport.com/was-the-injunction-filed-by-the-lycoming-county-commissioners-against-the-lycoming-county-controller-even-necessary/

 

https://talkwilliamsport.com/commissioners-issue-press-release-in-response-to-talkwilliamsport-com-reporting/

 

https://talkwilliamsport.com/caught-in-the-middle/

 

 

Lycoming County Commissioners in split decision set to appeal court loss in case brought by Krista Rogers, Lycoming County Controller

Photo: Lycoming County Commissioners (L-R) Rick Mirabito, Scott Metzger, Tony Mussare

and Lycoming County Controller Krista Rogers.

Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

On Thursday, the Lycoming County Commissioners issued a press release stating their reasoning behind an appeal of the most recent court battle loss to duly elected Lycoming County Controller Krista Rogers.

The press release in its entirety is provided below.

“The Court recently issued a decision in the litigation instituted against the Commissioners by the controller. There have been a number of comments circulating in the press and in social media regarding the decision, many of which suggest the need for our explanation to clarify where we stand.

            Initially, for decades the functions of general ledger, payroll, and accounts payable were housed within the County’s finance department, not in the controller’s office. This structure was productive, and continued under both the former controllers and for fifteen plus years with the current controller.  During this entire period, the current controller was able to exercise the functions of that office and no litigation was filed by her or otherwise occurred. 

            Several years ago the controller demanded that these functions be transferred to her office. Through her attorney at that time, litigation was threatened against the County.  Although things were running smoothly as they were then set up, the Commissioners acquiesced to the controller’s demand rather than to allow the controller’s litigation threat to unfold. 

            However, it became apparent that these transferred functions were not being effectively performed under the controller’s supervision; even more critically, the controller limited the County’s access to records for review and oversight purposes, thereby impeding the Commissioners ability to fulfill their statutory mandate to “manage and administer” the fiscal affairs of the County.  Furthermore, the controller threatened to withhold her signature on County payroll checks, which would have had a disastrous impact for the County.

            As a result of the threat, the County sought an injunction to prevent a catastrophe from occurring.  The Commissioners also returned to the County the transferred functions, where they had been performed for many, many years.  The lawsuit ended and the Commissioners believed the matter to be closed.

            However, in December of 2021, the controller filed her own new lawsuit to force the Commissioners to transfer the functions to her office. It was the controller who sued the County, not the other way around. The County felt compelled to defend this litigation because of the Commissioners’ overarching responsibility to the taxpayers to maintain oversight and control of fiscal affairs as against the controller’s prior efforts to withhold critical information.  This litigation resulted in the recent decision.  The result, which is favorable to the controller, fails to properly account in the Commissioners’ opinion for their obligation, as expressly spelled out in the County Code, to be the responsible managers and administrators of the fiscal affairs of the County. The court’s decision does not resolve the issue of whether the controller can withhold, as she has threatened to do, the County’s full access to the records it needs for the effective management and administration of the fiscal affairs of the County, so that it can protect the County’s employees and taxpayers.

            The background noise suggests that the Commissioners are trying to wrest power from the controller.   They are not.  They are simply trying to perform the jobs they were elected to do and are directed by law to do.   There is also some suggestion that the Commissioners’ actions occurred because the present controller is female.  That also is not the case.  Indeed, the prior controller under which the present arrangement operated exclusively for decades was a male.  The Commissioners’ only desire to make sure that they are properly managing the fiscal affairs of the County, which is their duty by statute and their obligation to the taxpayers. Their actions are only intended to further that mission.  For these reasons, the Commissioners will be pursuing an appeal of the decision.”

It is important to note, Brandy Clemens who became the Director of Budget & Finance subsequently resigned the weekend after she testified in this case.

Clemens, was joined in leaving the Office of Budget & Finance by Administrative Specialist Heather Lehman, who is now an Accountant in the Planning Department.

Matthew Tierney is no longer employed by Lycoming County.

Financial Technician Cynthia Gira also resigned to accept other employment. So, none of the transferred employees remain employed in the Budget & Finance Department or Office of the Controller.

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

EXCLUSIVE: Lawsuit filed over failure to audit 2020 election against Lycoming County Commissioners and Director of Elections

By Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

Tuesday afternoon, Attorney Gregory Stapp of Stapp Law made good on the promise he offered in a press release regarding litigation against Lycoming County Commissioners Scott Metzger, Tony Mussare and Richard Mirabito for failing to investigate the clear evidence of election fraud in the November 2020 election that they have been presented.

The COMPLAINT IN MANDAMUS (CV 22-01219) is listed below and was filed on behalf of Lycoming County residents Richard Houser, and Catherine Burns.

A potential conflict of interest is of note in the complaint, “Plaintiffs note that the Solicitor, or attorney, for the Lycoming County Commissioners is J. Michael Wiley, Esquire. According to the McCormick Law Firm website, it notes that Attorney Wiley is a partner in this firm along with State Senator Gene Yaw.  McCormick Law Firm’s website states the following in reference to their member Gene Yaw, “Elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 2008, Senator Yaw serves as Chairman of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.” Plaintiffs believe that it is a clear conflict of interest for McCormick Law Firm to represent the Lycoming County Commissioners who are the members of the Board of Elections that is charged under the law with overseeing elections in Lycoming County where State Senator Gene Yaw ran for office in 2020.”

The Complaint goes onto say, “Presently, the Lycoming County Commissioners and the Board of Elections are receiving legal advice about decisions such as whether to perform a forensic audit or to remove a referendum question from the ballot from a law firm that has a lawyer in it that ran for office in November 2020 and that they declared the winner of both the primary and the general election in Lycoming County. This represents a clear conflict of interest in the event there may be questions or concerns about the election of Gene Yaw, member of McCormick Law Firm, where those questions or concerns would be resolved with the advice of a lawyer working at Attorney Yaw’s firm. Throughout the presentation of evidence to the Commissioners and the now confirmation of voter fraud in the November 2020 election Plaintiffs believe, and therefore aver, that they have been provided legal advice by a member or members of the McCormick Law Firm.”

The Plaintiffs filed the case, “In order for each and every citizen of Lycoming County to feel that their vote will be counted moving forward, any investigation into the November 2020 election needs to be performed by an independent third-party group with expertise in forensic audits.”

They are seeking the following relief from the Court:

  1. Order Lycoming County and the Board of Elections to maintain any and all materials from the November 2020 election, including but not limited to, the cast ballots, the envelopes, the jump drives and/or any other electronic device that recorded or counted votes;
  2. Order Lycoming County and the Board of Elections to perform a forensic audit of the November 2020 election by an independent third party group;
  3. Order Lycoming County and the Board of Elections to immediately report all the suspicious activity that has been reported to them to the district attorney’s office and report any additional suspicious circumstances that are revealed as a result of the forensic audit to the district attorney’s office;
  4. And upon proof of fraud and irregularities in the November 2020 election to order Lycoming County and the Board of Elections to decertify the results of the November 2020 election for Lycoming County in accordance with the Pennsylvania Election Code.
  5. And any such other relief the Court deems appropriate.

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

 

COMPLAINT IN MANDAMUS

AND NOW, comes the Plaintiffs, Richard Houser, and Catherine Burns, by and through their attorney, Gregory A. Stapp, Esquire, and complains against the Defendants as follows:

  1. Richard Houser and Catherine Burns are adult individuals, citizens and qualified electors of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
  2. Lycoming County is a municipal organization duly formed and operating under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  3. Lycoming County Board of Elections consists of the presently elected Commissioners and the Director of Elections.
  4. Lycoming County Commissioner Scott Metzger was a commissioner for Lycoming County at all times relevant hereto.
  5. Lycoming County Commissioner Tony Mussare was a commissioner for Lycoming County at all times relevant hereto.
  6. Lycoming County Commissioner Richard Mirabito was a commissioner for Lycoming County at all times relevant hereto.
  7. Forrest Lehman was at all times relevant hereto the Director of Elections for Lycoming County and a member of the Board of Elections.
  8. The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
  9. In the United States of America, the government derives its power from the consent of the governed through their legal vote.
  10. Article XV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
  11. Despite the continued misrepresentation in most social media, cable television, local and national news programs, the United States of America is not a democracy. We are a representative republic who exists at “the consent of the governed.”  If any one citizen’s vote is not counted, whether because of suspicious circumstances like unavailable ballots or because of fraud, then we no longer live in a representative republic and the dream that was America is dead.
  12. The Plaintiffs look to the Defendants to protect and preserve the vote of each and every citizen of Lycoming County, particularly those who are the most vulnerable.
  13. 25 P.S. 2642(i), states, “The county boards of elections, within their respective counties, shall exercise, in the manner provided by this act, all powers granted to them by this act, and shall perform all the duties imposed upon them by this act, which shall include the following: To investigate election frauds, irregularities and violations of this act, and to report all suspicious circumstances to the district attorney.”
  14. Over the past approximately 14 months, the Commissioners have been shown evidence of fraud, numerous irregularities, and violations of the Election Code.
  15. Plaintiffs are both members of the Lycoming County Patriots, an organization formed and duly operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  16. On or about August 21, 2021, the Lycoming County Patriots were presented with an idea of requesting that our Lycoming County Commissioners vote to perform a forensic audit similar to the one going on in Arizona.
  17. The Lycoming County Patriots tasked certain individuals with researching and working with Audit the Vote PA to determine whether a forensic audit could be performed by an independent third-party group with expertise and experience in performing forensic audits.
  18. A meeting was held in the fall of 2021 with members of the board of the Lycoming County Patriots and the Lycoming County Commissioners to explain how there were numerous irregularities in the November 2020 election in Lycoming County.
  19. Following this initial meeting, the Lycoming County Commissioners agreed to meet with a member of Audit the Vote PA and Seth Keshel via Zoom in October of 2021 to allow Mr. Keshel to explain the anomalies that he had discovered in the voting in Lycoming County in the November 2020 election compared to previous elections.
  20. Following these meetings, the Defendants participate in a meeting that was held with members of the Audit the Vote PA in November of 2021 to discuss with the Commissioners how a forensic audit could be performed here in Lycoming County.
  21. Following this meeting, the Commissioners failed to vote for a forensic audit which calls into question why the Commissioners would refuse to vote for a forensic audit when they were presented with an option to perform a forensic audit that would have been funded privately avoiding any cost to the taxpayers of Lycoming County.
  22. As a result of the Commissioners refusal to agree to a forensic audit by an independent third party, citizens of the Lycoming County began to canvass houses in the beginning of 2022 to provide firsthand evidence of irregularities and possible fraud in the November 2020 election.
  23. The results of that canvassing showed clear anomalies and irregularities in the November 2020 election.
  24. At a meeting in May 2022 with Commissioner Tony Mussare, Commissioner Mussare admitted to Plaintiffs that he believed fraud occurred in the November 2020 election in Lycoming County and that the envelopes are the key to finding the fraud as the ballots do not have the name of the voter or even a bar code to determine the identity of the person who voted.
  25. The Commissioners were presented evidence in the form of testimony and affidavits from numerous citizens at a hearing on or about June 2022.
  26. The Commissioners were presented with evidence that an elderly woman was admitted to a nursing home in 2020 and was labeled as “not capable”; yet according to the voting records this woman registered to vote on October 14, 2020 and voted in the November 2020 election despite the fact that she was bed ridden.
  27. The Commissioners were provided evidence of an address in Hughesville that state voting information says exists and from which a vote was cast in the November 2020 election; yet, no such address exists in Hughesville, Pennsylvania.
  28. At another address in Hughesville, a resident stated that 3 people were registered to vote at this address and 3 people voted; yet the state voting records show that only 2 people voted.
  29. The Commissioners were presented evidence that residents at a home in Montoursville stated that no one at that home was registered to vote; yet, according to state voting information one person registered to vote from that address and cast a vote in the November 2020 election.
  30. The Commissioners were also presented evidence of a household with 2 registered voters that said that they were registered and voted in the November 2020 election; yet, according to state voting information only one vote was recorded from this household.
  31. Following the hearing at which the Commissioners were provided the above affidavits and evidence, they failed to investigate these clear frauds, irregularities, and violations of the law in accordance with 25 P.S. §2642.
  32. On July 22, 2022, the Commissioners were notified by undersigned counsel that Representative Michael Puskaric was part of the Committee investigating the November 2020 election in Harrisburg which found that Governor Wolf gave access to the voter rolls in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to third party non-profit groups for the first time in the 2020 election.  As a result of this access, Representative Puskaric stated that these groups registered fake people who then voted in the November 2020 election and then removed the names after the election in March of 2021.
  33. The Commissioners were given Representative Puskaric’s personal cell phone number and advised to contact him to discuss this very important issue and whether this occurred in Lycoming County.
  34. Plaintiffs believe, and therefore aver, that the Commissioners did not contact Representative Puskaric to discuss whether fake registrations were made in Lycoming County on or around the time of the November 2020 election.
  35. On July 27, 2022, the Commissioners were made aware of a website operated by Matt Braynard, a former Trump official, called lookaheadamerica.org. According to this website, the Lycoming County Director of Elections was contacted by this organization with the names of individuals on the voter rolls that they believed were fraudulent.  This organization posted on social media the following statement, “We have followed up with all the affected counties in Pennsylvania and submitted 1,359 questionable and potentially illegal registrations to the clerks of the 63 affected counties. We published their responses here.  Ian Camacho, LAA’s Director of Research, made the following statement:  While most responses were good and helpful, a few that were hostile and combative. Noteworthy was that the two hostile counties Lycoming and Fulton used verbatim language in their responses, indicative of a coordinated response between clerks that parroted familiar language of the legacy media (i.e., “baseless claims”).”
  36. Look Ahead America provided 11 registrations that they were concerned about as potentially fraudulent to Defendant Forrest Lehman.
  37. A representative of Look Ahead America and Forrest Lehman exchanged numerous emails in which Mr. Lehman seemed to admit that 6 registrations were suspicious.
  38. As a result of the work of Look Ahead America, Forrest Lehman has admitted that he cancelled 6 registrations of alleged voters that listed their home address at the Montoursville Post Office, the UPS Store, and the Goodwill Store, which Plaintiffs believe confirms the statements of Representative Puskaric to undersigned counsel.
  39. Since this clear evidence of fraud was provided to the Commissioners in July of 2022, the Commissioners have failed to conduct a forensic audit of the November 2020 election.
  40. Throughout the year 2022, evidence of voter fraud and convictions have been reported across America in states such as Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, and Florida.
  41. One of those convictions in Florida resulted in a Democratic official explaining the different types of ballot harvesting that she and others performed and for which they were convicted. The Commissioners were provided this information by undersigned counsel on October 27, 2022, for their review in light of the previously provided evidence of election fraud here in Lycoming County involving nursing homes and residents.
  42. The Democratic official admitted the following, “For nursing homes … ballot brokers get the list of residents by cross referencing the address with the voter registration list,” she explained. “The ballot broker figures out the best way to make contact, usually thru friends and family that may or may not know they are even part of a scheme. They help the resident fill out the mail-in-ballot or just take the mail-in-ballot from the nursing home and deliver it to the ballot broker.” https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/florida-opens-criminal-probe-democrat-whistleblowers-evidence-ballot
  43. Following the Commissioner’s notification of fraudulent voters on the voter rolls in Lycoming County and Forrest Lehman’s admission that these 6 voters were fraudulent, the citizens of Lycoming County passed around a petition to add a referendum to the ballot in Lycoming County in November 2022 that asked the citizens of Lycoming County whether they believe machines should be used in our local elections.
  44. The Commissioners voted to put this referendum on the ballot for the November 2022 election in Lycoming County.
  45. Following this vote by the Commissioners to put the referendum on the ballot, they received a letter from the Pennsylvania Department of State telling the Commissioners that if they did not immediately vote to remove this referendum from the ballot that Monday that the Department of State would sue them on Tuesday of that same week.
  46. As a result of this letter, a meeting was held on Monday, September 12, 2022, to vote on whether to leave the referendum question in the ballot.
  47. Prior to the Monday meeting, undersigned counsel reviewed the case law provided in the letter from the Department of State and advised the Commissioners that the Assistant Secretary of State was misinterpreting the case law that was provided to them and that the cases did not stand for the propositions that the letter asserted, and that the referendum was not in violation of the law.
  48. Despite this advice, the Commissioners immediately bowed to the will of the Department of State under the direction of Governor Wolf and removed the referendum question from the ballot.
  49. Plaintiffs note that the Solicitor, or attorney, for the Lycoming County Commissioners is J. Michael Wiley, Esquire. According to the McCormick Law Firm website, it notes that Attorney Wiley is a partner in this firm along with State Senator Gene Yaw.  McCormick Law Firm’s website states the following in reference to their member Gene Yaw, “Elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 2008, Senator Yaw serves as Chairman of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.”
  50. Plaintiffs believe that it is a clear conflict of interest for McCormick Law Firm to represent the Lycoming County Commissioners who are the members of the Board of Elections that is charged under the law with overseeing elections in Lycoming County where State Senator Gene Yaw ran for office in 2020.
  51. Presently, the Lycoming County Commissioners and the Board of Elections are receiving legal advice about decisions such as whether to perform a forensic audit or to remove a referendum question from the ballot from a law firm that has a lawyer in it that ran for office in November 2020 and that they declared the winner of both the primary and the general election in Lycoming County.
  52. This represents a clear conflict of interest in the event there may be questions or concerns about the election of Gene Yaw, member of McCormick Law Firm, where those questions or concerns would be resolved with the advice of a lawyer working at Attorney Yaw’s firm.
  53. Throughout the presentation of evidence to the Commissioners and the now confirmation of voter fraud in the November 2020 election Plaintiffs believe, and therefore aver, that they have been provided legal advice by a member or members of the McCormick Law Firm.
  54. The common law writ of mandamus lies to compel the performance of a ministerial act or mandatory duty. Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC v. Golden, 35 A.3d 1277 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2012).
  55. The burden of proof falls upon the party seeking this extraordinary remedy to establish his legal right to such relief.” Werner v. Zazyczny, 545 Pa. 570, 681 A.2d 1331, 1335 (1996). To state a claim for mandamus, a petitioner must establish the following three elements: (1) a clear legal right to relief in the petitioner; (2) a corresponding duty in the respondent; and, (3) the lack of any other adequate and appropriate remedy. Wilson v. Pa. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 942 A.2d 270, 272 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2008). “Mandamus is not available to establish legal rights but only to enforce rights that have been established.” Smires v. O’Shell, 126 A.3d 383, 387 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2015) (citations omitted).
  56. The Plaintiffs have a clear right to relief as they are qualified electors in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania and cannot determine whether their votes counted in the November 2020 election.
  57. The Defendants are required under Title 25 of the Election Code to investigate irregularities, fraud and to report any suspicious circumstances to the District Attorney.
  58. The Plaintiffs and other citizens have for months tried to get the Defendants to agree to a forensic audit and to investigate the clear fraud, some of which Mr. Lehman has even admitted to in a public hearing by cancelling the registration of 6 alleged voters. The Plaintiffs have no other adequate and appropriate remedy.
  59. At the Board of Elections hearing held on December 5, 2022, a citizen expressed concern over who would be used to perform a hand recount in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
  60. In order for each and every citizen of Lycoming County to feel that their vote will be counted moving forward, any investigation into the November 2020 election needs to be performed by an independent third-party group with expertise in forensic audits.

 

WHEREFORE, the Plaintiffs demand the following relief:

  1. Order Lycoming County and the Board of Elections to maintain any and all materials from the November 2020 election, including but not limited to, the cast ballots, the envelopes, the jump drives and/or any other electronic device that recorded or counted votes;
  2. Order Lycoming County and the Board of Elections to perform a forensic audit of the November 2020 election by an independent third party group;
  3. Order Lycoming County and the Board of Elections to immediately report all the suspicious activity that has been reported to them to the district attorney’s office and report any additional suspicious circumstances that are revealed as a result of the forensic audit to the district attorney’s office;
  4. And upon proof of fraud and irregularities in the November 2020 election to order Lycoming County and the Board of Elections to decertify the results of the November 2020 election for Lycoming County in accordance with the Pennsylvania Election Code.
  5. And any such other relief the Court deems appropriate.

 

STAPP LAW, LLC

                                                                       

Gregory A. Stapp, Esquire

Attorney for Plaintiffs

Atty. I.D.# 78247

153 W. 4th Street, Suite 6

Williamsport, PA 17701

(570) 326-1077

EXCLUSIVE: Lycoming County Commissioners being sued over failure to audit 2020 election

By Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

Monday morning, Attorney Gregory Stapp of Stapp Law offered the following press release regarding forthcoming litigation against Lycoming County Commissioners Scott Metzger, Tony Mussare and Richard Mirabito for failing to investigate the clear evidence of election fraud in the November 2020 election that they have been presented.

Stapp Law will be filing a complaint in mandamus on behalf of Richard Houser and Catherine Burns against Lycoming County and Lycoming County Commissioners Scott Metzger, Tony Mussare and Richard Mirabito on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, for failing to investigate the clear evidence of election fraud in the November 2020 election that they have been presented.

EDITOR’S NOTE: “complaint in mandamus” – Is a complaint that is used to force a government entity to do their job essentially. Complaint in mandamus asks the court to order the government entity to do what is required by law.

The Commissioners have been provided with signed affidavits and testimony from witnesses of election fraud, including but not limited to, fraud perpetrated against elderly citizens in Lycoming County, one of which was registered to vote and voted in the November 2020 election without their knowledge.

Furthermore, Forrest Lehman, Director of Elections for Lycoming County admitted at a commissioner’s meeting that 6 individuals registered to vote in Lycoming County with their listed residence at the Montoursville Post Office, the UPS Store, and the Goodwill Store.

Mr. Lehman explained that these 6 allegedly real people were sent notification of a hearing in July of 2022 for which no one appeared.  As a result, Mr. Lehman said those 6 registrations were cancelled.  He failed to disclose to the public at that time whether those 6 registered “voters” voted in the November 2020 election.

Mr. Lehman and the Commissioners also failed to state whether they reported this fraud to the Lycoming County District Attorney as required by the law.

The Commissioners have repeatedly been asked by citizens of Lycoming County for over a year to allow a forensic audit by an independent third party and have refused to vote for a forensic audit.

My client’s complaint will demand that Lycoming County vote for a forensic audit by an independent third party immediately in order to restore the faith of the citizens of Lycoming County in our elections.

On background, as exclusively reported by TalkWilliamsport.com, former WASD School Board member Marc Schefsky had a criminal “false swearing” charge filed against him for using his former address in Williamsport to cast a ballot in the 2020 election. According to court documents, Schefsky was actually residing in Hughesville when he voted in 2020.

The exclusive reporting of TalkWilliamsport.com led directly to the filing of the criminal “false swearing” charge against Schefsky.

On Friday, Lycoming County Commissioners Scott Metzger, Tony Mussare and Richard Mirabito were handed a third loss in the legal battle with Lycoming County Controller Krista Rogers when Senior Judge Leete in a finding of facts cited the County Code in them overstepping their attempt to “usurp’ the authority of a duly elected official.

Judge Leete also Ordered the Lycoming County Commissioners to pay the legal fees incurred by Rogers as a result of the litigation.

A Public Notice is posted for a meeting of the Lycoming County Board of Elections for today.

Lycoming County Board of Elections Agenda

December 5, 2022, 10:30am

Executive Plaza 1st Floor Boardroom

330 Pine Street, Williamsport

1. Convene Board of Elections.

2. Approve minutes of the November 18, 2022 meeting.

3. Public comment on agenda items only.

4. Deliberate and possibly take action to set rules for a hand count of ballots cast in the November 2020 General Election.

5. Public comment.

The next Lycoming County Commissioners Public Meeting will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. in the Commissioner’s Board Room, 1st Floor, Executive Plaza, 330 Pine Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 based up the published December 1, 2022, Meeting Minutes.

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

 

Previous Reporting on Lycoming County Controller Krista Rogers vs. Lycoming County Commissioners litigation:

https://talkwilliamsport.com/exclusive-lc-controller-krista-rogers-issues-statement-after-court-victory-over-commissioners/

https://talkwilliamsport.com/lcc-respond-to-recent-court-loss-with-defiant-statement/

https://talkwilliamsport.com/exclusive-lycoming-county-controller-files-case-to-compel-commissioners-to-comply-with-pa-law/

https://talkwilliamsport.com/lycoming-county-commissioners-respond-to-lycoming-county-controller-claims/

https://talkwilliamsport.com/lycoming-county-commissioners-double-down-against-controller-after-catastrophic-court-case-loss/

https://talkwilliamsport.com/the-stakes-in-legal-case-between-the-commissioners-and-lycoming-county-controller-just-went-up/

https://talkwilliamsport.com/was-the-injunction-filed-by-the-lycoming-county-commissioners-against-the-lycoming-county-controller-even-necessary/

https://talkwilliamsport.com/commissioners-issue-press-release-in-response-to-talkwilliamsport-com-reporting/

https://talkwilliamsport.com/caught-in-the-middle/

 

Previous reporting on the WASD School Board by TalkWilliamsport.com:

Schefsky WASD School Board Resignation Letter obtained

Marc Schefsky, WASD School Board member announces intention to resign

WASD School Board major changes are forthcoming

WASD solicitor Fred Holland wants $20,000 retainer and a raise for ’21-’22

BREAKING NEWS: Resignations to be announced at the WASD School Board meeting tonight

Nancy Somers resigns from WASD school board

Residents circulate petition for immediate removal of Marc Schefsky from WASD school board

Lycoming County District Attorney office confirms receipt of Marc Schefsky non-WASD residency complaint

WASD School Board to discuss vacant board seat tonight

WASD School Board candidate petitions obtained, connections run deep

Low aptitude welcome…but wait, not all…

By Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

When the Williamsport Area School District claims that “Under the agreement, all WAHS graduates now have guaranteed admission to the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven or Mansfield University campuses as well as on-campus housing for up to four years of full-time enrollment.”

According to the actual agreement obtained by Talkwilliamsport.com; that WASD statement is patently false.

The boiler plate agreement being used by Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield Universities) with upwards of 40 different central Pennsylvania high schools reads quite differently than the Williamsport Area School District would have the Class of 2023 believe.

This is not the first time the Williamsport Area School District has engaged in making misleading public statements.

The Williamsport Area School District could not wait to share with the world, the same agreement Centre County Schools entered into earlier this week.

From the Williamsport Area School District Facebook page:

🗣️ Big news! Thanks to an agreement we recently entered into, Williamsport Area High School students now have guaranteed admission to Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania!
Under the agreement, all WAHS graduates now have guaranteed admission to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven University and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania campuses as well as on-campus housing for up to four years of full-time enrollment. Read more: https://bit.ly/3SldNzg
The Williamsport Area School District also posted the following graphic and narrative to its website announcing the agreement.
Commonwealth University Flyer

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (OCTOBER 20, 2022) — Williamsport Area High School students now have guaranteed admission to Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, thanks to an agreement recently signed by the Williamsport Area School District.

Under the agreement, all WAHS graduates now have guaranteed admission to the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven or Mansfield University campuses as well as on-campus housing for up to four years of full-time enrollment.

Students must apply prior to Dec. 15 of their senior year to qualify and meet all application requirements.

Commonwealth University also will provide merit-based scholarship opportunities to students meeting certain grade point average requirements.

The four tiers of the scholarship are:

  • Tier 1: 95% or above or 3.8 to 4.0 cumulative GPA— $28,000;  $7,000 annually
  • Tier 2: 90-94%  or above or 3.5 to 3.79 cumulative GPA — $24,000; $6,000 annually
  • Tier 3: 85-89% or above or 3.0 to 3.49 cumulative GPA — $16,000; $4,000 annually
  • Tier 4: 80-84% or above or 2.5 to 2.99 cumulative GPA — $12,000; $3,000 annually

All scholarship recipients must be enrolled full time and have 12 or more credit hours per academic semester. A minimum GPA of 2.5 must be maintained and the student must remain in good academic standing.

On-campus housing is guaranteed at any of the three campuses for up to four years of full-time student enrollment.

“This is a great opportunity for our graduating seniors,” said Principal Dr. Justin Ross. “Entering into this agreement has helped to clear the path for our students, regardless of their socioeconomic status, to attend any of these three university campuses to obtain a college degree. We’re extremely grateful this agreement is now in place and will serve our graduates well for years to come.”

Dr. Justin Ross replaced criminally charged for an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a WAHS student former WAHS head principal Dr. Roger Freed who succeeded longtime WAHS head principal Dr. Brandon Pardoe who was promoted to WASD Director of Student Services after also serving as WAHS head principal and the supervisor of Dr. Freed.
TalkWilliamsport.com obtained the boiler plate agreement from the State College School District and the same agreement was signed off on by WAHS officials but not the WASD school board as their Tuesday meeting did not occur due to a lack of quorum (not enough board members attended to have a meeting).
From the SCASD agreement:
B. PROCEDURES
SCASD agrees to publicize this Guaranteed Admissions Agreement to students in its school district communications and correspondence, and to inform qualified, matriculating students of the opportunity for admission to, and scholarship qualifications, at Commonwealth University under the terms of this agreement. Commonwealth University will recognize student attendance at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses. SCASD students must enroll no later than the fall semester immediately following their high school graduation. They cannot attend another two-year or four-year institution after graduating from SCASD. Otherwise, the Guaranteed Admissions and matching scholarship is null and void.

SCASD students must complete the Commonwealth University Application for Admission by December 15 of their senior year to qualify for the Guaranteed Admissions and scholarship criteria. Late applicants who apply for admission after that deadline may not be considered as part of the agreement and scholarship criteria.

The following items are the responsibility of students participating in the Guaranteed Admissions program:
1. Graduate from State College Area School District with a minimum overall grade point average that satisfies the academic standards of the school district and The Pennsylvania Department of Education.
2. At the time of application, provide transcripts of all courses completed up to and including the current grade reporting period.
3. Upon graduating from SCASD, provide official final transcripts to Commonwealth University.
4. SCASD students must complete the Commonwealth University Application for Admission by December 15 if enrolling for the following fall semester, and to be considered for the Guaranteed Admissions and scholarship award criteria. Admission under this agreement will be contingent upon completing items 1 to 3, above, and graduation from State College Area School District.
5. Pay the required advanced deposit to hold a seat for the initial semester of admittance.
6. Pay Commonwealth University’s tuition and fees for those semesters in which they are registered for courses at Commonwealth University.
C. CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
1. A Program Coordinator shall be identified at SCASD and Commonwealth University who will assist all students in transition regarding the application process, housing requirements at Commonwealth University, major selection and campus location, academic advising, and consideration for a scholarship award to Commonwealth University.
2. The term of this agreement shall be five (5) years commencing when all applicable signatures are obtained.The first cohort of eligible SCASD students to participate in this agreement will be part of the graduating Class of 2023 who will enroll at Commonwealth University for the Fall 2023 academic semester.
3. Any SCASD student who has successfully earned credits through dual enrollment programs at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, or Mansfield Universities, or at other two-year or four-year accredited institutions, will have those credits appropriately applied to their major of study, once a major is declared and the student is accepted to Commonwealth University.
4. Either institution may withdraw from the agreement upon written notification of the other, with exception to commitments already in effect for students who have applied to Commonwealth University. Such commitments will be honored. In the event of a substantial breach, such as, a lack of response to requests for information and or adequate participation, either party may terminate this agreement.
5. The relationship of the parties to this contract shall not be construed to constitute a partnership, joint venture, or any other relationship, other than that of independent contractors.
So when the agreement says, in “B. PROCEDURES, SCASD agrees to publicize this Guaranteed Admissions Agreement to students in its school district communications and correspondence, and to inform qualified, matriculating students of the opportunity for admission to, and scholarship qualifications, at Commonwealth University”; ALL is not spelled qualified.

According to the Bloomsburg University admissions page,

WILL I BE ADMITTED?

The average admitted Husky has:

  • A “B+” average in high school
  • A 1070 SAT or 23 ACT (1180 SAT, 24 ACT for nursing)
  • Is ranked in the top 30% of their class
  • Taken a college prep curriculum in high school
As a matter of mere fact, being “ranked in the top 30% of their class” is not ALL.

As a matter of mere fact, not ALL WAHS students have “A “B+ average in high school”.

In fact, according to U.S. News & World Report, “Williamsport Area Senior High School has a graduation rate of 87%.
The AP® participation rate at Williamsport Area Senior High School is 17%. The total minority enrollment is 36%, and 64% of students are economically disadvantaged.”
This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

LC Commissioners forced to issue statement after local media butchers hand count of elections story

By Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

After seeing numerous local media reports littered with false information regarding the hand counts of elections discussed at the Lycoming County Board of Elections on Tuesday; Lycoming County Commissioners Metzger, Mirabito and Mussare issued a press release Wednesday afternoon.

The unedited press release is as follows:

“The Lycoming County Board of Elections met on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022 to deliberate the subject of hand counts of elections. Public comment on agenda items were heard.

The Director of Voter Services, Forrest Lehman, presented a review of current practices for preelection testing and post-election audits. The outcome of the deliberations resulted in two sperate motions being made.

The first motion, made by Commissioner Scott Metzger, resulted in an order to hand count the ballots cast for presidential electors and 1 additional statewide contest from the November 2020 General Election to begin no earlier than Monday, January 9, 2023.

The motion established a proposed set of rules for the conduct of the recount. Commissioner Tony Mussare seconded the motion.

The motion was approved 2-1, with Mr. Metzger and Mr. Mussare voting in the
affirmative and Commissioner Rick Mirabito voting against.

The second motion, made by Mr. Mirabito, resulted in adopting a hand count of 2% of the ballots cast after every election as the county’s post-election audit policy going forward.

The policy was adopted in order to satisfy the longstanding 2% statistical audit requirement in the PA Election Code as well as the newer statewide risk limiting audit standard with a single process.

Mr. Mussare seconded the motion. The motion was approved 2-1, with Mr. Mussare and Mr. Mirabito voting in the affirmative and Mr. Metzger against.

The Lycoming County Election Board’s intent and purpose of approving these two actions is to improve voter confidence in the election process in Lycoming County by verifying that the electronic voting system results are consistent with that of the hand counting of the two races in the 2020 election and the hand counting of post-election audit results going forward.”

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

EXCLUSIVE: AG Shapiro weighs in on failing to criminally charge the adults in 2018 sex assault of black WAHS baseball player

 

By Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

On Thursday, TalkWilliamsport.com received a response to the question posed to current Pennsylvania Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro; “why did you fail to criminally charge the adults in the 2018 WAHS/Myrtle Beach case?”

Shapiro had been provided a copy of the federal civil rights lawsuit filed by the victim in the case prior to the request for comment.

EXCLUSIVE: Former WAHS black baseball player files federal lawsuit after being sexually assaulted by white teammate

 

Communications Director for PA Office of Attorney General, Jacklin Rhoads provided the following statement yesterday:

“Hi Todd, 

Our office has no comment at this time. 

J “

On September 21, 2021 on the PA Capitol steps of AG Shaprio was confronted on the lack of criminal charges while standing in front of sexual abuse survivors.

AG Shapiro has been quite outspoken regarding his support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

AG SHAPIRO RELEASES STATEMENT ON DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD

MAY 29, 2020 | TOPIC: PEOPLES AG

HARRISBURG- Today, Attorney General Josh Shapiro is releasing the statement below following the death of George Floyd.

“There is a rot at the center of our society, and this week it was laid bare on the street under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer.

Today that officer was charged with murder and is under arrest. It is the first step toward justice, but we have a long road ahead of us.

We still live with the consequences of slavery and racism. It has been institutionalized over generations in our criminal justice system, our economy, our health care system, and our schools.

The killing of George Floyd is an especially painful reminder of how far we have yet to travel as a nation to find peace and equality — because this could be anywhere in America.

In the hours that followed George Floyd’s death, I have spoken to many Pennsylvanians who saw themselves in George. Too many Americans see how our society does not care about them, and see the rule of law applying to different people in different ways. I have listened to young black Pennsylvanians who feel scared and helpless, and question if we can fix the problems that have plagued our communities for generations. I have spoken to police officers who desperately want to make change so this brutality stops happening in America. I have heard the pain from community leaders as people fall through the cracks during this pandemic.

When George Floyd died in the street, surrounded by officers sworn to protect the peace, millions of Americans felt the pain of being told “you don’t matter.”

And it happened at a time when poor, marginalized, and minority communities are being left behind in a pandemic and an economic free fall that has left nearly 1 in 3 Pennsylvanians out of work. Who are the people being told they are essential and forced to risk their lives to go to work while others can stay at home? Who are the Americans that have been laid off since the pandemic hit? Which communities suffer the most from a lack of access to healthcare? Who are the business owners struggling to access PPP loans? We know the answers, and they are not acceptable.

Our response to this crisis must show the moral clarity that everybody counts, and everybody matters. We must give people the confidence that through hard work we can heal our society, and lift the knee that holds down Black Americans and holds back the potential of our country. Institutionalized racism was put in place over generations by people. It will take time, but as individuals we have the power to end it, and ensure everyone the god-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

My faith teaches that no one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it. That lesson holds true today. No one can bring equality alone, and the work may not be completed in our lifetime, but we each must do our part.

Real leaders don’t do this by sowing divisions, but rather with hope, with love for everyone, and with the faith that all of our actions will make a difference.”

From the Twitter account of Attorney General Josh Shapiro

June 19, 2020

But saying it, just isn’t enough.

It’s through our action that we can rebuild trust.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, along with members of Congress and law enforcement, is calling for Pennsylvania to enact a chokehold ban.
6ABC.COM
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, along with members of Congress and law enforcement, is calling for Pennsylvania to enact a chokehold ban.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, along with members of Congress and law enforcement, is calling for Pennsylvania to enact a chokehold ban.

Josh Shapiro
@JoshShapiroPA
Governor candidate, PA
Saying Black lives matter isn’t enough. We must listen and we must take action. These new police reform laws are a down payment on the types of reforms we must deliver on here in Pennsylvania. cnn.it/2C7p05I

Image

October 20, 2020
PA AG Josh Shapiro sends clear message to mandated reporters who fail to report
Todd Bartley, of talkwilliamsport.com was able to ask the following question of the panelists:
“…is there ever a time to not mandate report and what happens if somebody fails to mandate report?”
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro offered the following response:
“I echo everything the Secretary (Miller) just said. I would just add. There are no higher priorities than protecting the most vulnerable in our state and children often times are the most vulnerable and when we find folks who are mandated reporters who are covering up abuse, we will hold them accountable.
We’ve charged many people, with, for example endangering the welfare of children.
We will not hesitate to charge mandated reporters who think they can cover-up abuse going on in a particular situation; whether a school, a place of worship, a school bus, whatever the case may be. And I think our record speaks for itself on that.”
April 21, 2021
AG Shapiro Statement on Senate Judiciary’s Vote To Pass Civil Window Statute
Today’s vote brings these brave survivors the closest they have been to having their day in court.
Now it’s time to deliver justice and closure for those who spoke up, relived their trauma,
and bolstered the system for future victims.” 
May 26, 2021
Statement by AG Josh Shapiro On Judge’s Order For Graham Spanier To Begin Serving Prison Sentence
“Today marks the end of a long road towards justice for the children endangered by Mr. Spanier’s inaction— choosing to cover up the abuse at the hands of Jerry Sandusky
rather than reporting it to law enforcement.
July 19, 2021

I (Lycoming County DA Ryan Gardner) recently received a letter from the Office of Attorney General regarding the Myrtle Beach referral.  The letter indicates the following:

“The OAG assumed jurisdiction of this investigation on May 27, 2020, at your request, and based upon an actual or apparent conflict of interest.  Following a lengthy and thorough investigation, the OAG has determined that insufficient evidence exists to justify any further action.  As such, we are closing our file.

As you may recall, the matter of this referral involved alleged hazing or assaults committed against minors in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

While that location is beyond the jurisdiction of the OAG, as a result of the OAG’s investigation and cooperation with South Carolina officials, law enforcement action was taken in that jurisdiction for the criminal conduct committed there. 

The OAG was unable to determine whether any attempt to ‘cover-up’ the conduct occurred in Pennsylvania due to the failure of the District Attorney’s Office to create, implement, and enforce any policies governing the conduct of county detectives. 

While the OAG understands that this occurred prior to your tenure, it would be advisable to create, implement and enforce such policies moving forward which are consistent with law enforcement ‘best practices.’”

August 31, 2022
Gov. Wolf Secures Agreement with Legislative Leaders on Constitutional Amendment Supporting Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
“I want to first reiterate my deep regret and sincerest apologies to victims for the process error that prevented this issue from being decided upon by the voters this legislative session. I have fought for an immediate legislative solution to this issue and have been working with legislators to determine the clearest path forward,” Gov. Wolf said. 
“After speaking directly with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle, I’m pleased that they have committed to prioritize second passage of a constitutional amendment early next session. I am grateful for this agreement so that survivors can seek a path forward toward justice.”
Governor Wolf was asked to comment on this story and has yet to provide a response.
This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Detective Weber hired as Montgomery School District Police Officer

IMAGES: 

Willie Weber, Former Lycoming County Chief Detective &

Little League World Series Team Host (Uncle) (left),

Daphne L. Bowers, MASD Superintendent (top right), and 

Nicole Ippolito, current MASD Solicitor, former Lycoming County ADA (bottom right)

 

By Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

Daphne L. Bowers, Montgomery Area School District Superintendent now has a new part-time school police officer in her district.

A law enforcement official her husband Dr. Timothy Bowers Williamsport Area School District Superintendent is quite familiar with.

Former Lycoming County Chief Detective Willie Weber was hired as a part-time school police officer by the Montgomery Area School District at the July 19, 2022 MASD school board meeting.

 

From the MASD Board Agenda for July 19, 2022:
10.8 PERSONNEL
10.8.2 That the Board take action to approve Mr. William Weber as a part-time contracted School Police Officer at a rate of $28.05 per hour.
From the MASD Board Meeting Minutes for July 19, 2022:
A resolution was offered by Mrs. Pick seconded by Mrs. Schreiber to approve Mr. William Webber as a part-time contracted School Police Officer at a rate of $28.05 per hour.
AYES: Mrs. Yeckley, Mrs. Pick, Mr. DeSantis, Mrs. Schreiber, Mr. Stryker, Jr, Mr. Yocum and Mr. Wright.
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Mr. Umpstead
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Mr. Persing is listed as absent at the beginning of the Meeting Minutes)

07192022_a 07192022_m

 

Weber was one of six individuals named as Defendants in a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit filed yesterday by a former Williamsport Area High School black baseball player who was the victim of an indecent sexual assault by a white teammate during the 2018 team trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

From the Federal Court filing:

“Weber is sued in his official and individual capacities for his actions and/or inactions

made under color of state law and in violation of Plaintiff’s Constitutional rights

as described more fully herein.”

 

Upon receiving the unredacted Office of Attorney General Search Warrants last year, Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan Gardner announced the “retirement” of Willie Weber from his office.

 

From the Federal Court filing:

  • In a report that Defendant Weber would author almost five months later in October 2018—the first and only time he drafted an investigative report related to the assault of Plaintiff—Weber recalls informing CYS in mid-May 2018 that he would look into the matter due to his “familiarity” with the WAHS baseball program since his son was previously a member of the Millionaires and Weber himself attended the Myrtle Beach tournament for three years.
  • Defendant Weber also wrote that he informed Defendant Pardoe that Weber had no jurisdiction over what happened in Myrtle Beach, “but would assist and make referrals if need be.” Weber also told Pardoe that he was “aware of the trip and what usually goes on during the annual trip.”
  • Both Defendant Pardoe and Defendant Weber are also mandated reporters pursuant to 63 Pa.C.S. § 6311, et seq. Neither ever made a report to Child Line concerning what they learned from CYS.
  • Upon information and belief, it was also at this time in May 2018 that Defendant Weber gained possession of at least one of the videos depicting the assaults. However, Weber did not take any further action despite also being a mandated reporter and law enforcement official. Weber did not so much as even communicate the allegations of criminal sexual conduct to a single prosecutor in the LC DA’s Office at or around the time he received the report.
  • Moreover, Weber did not forward the video in his possession to the Myrtle Beach Police Department (“MBPD”) nor contact them about the allegations, despite the MBPD being the proper law enforcement entity to have jurisdiction over the criminal behavior of B.M. in South Carolina.

On background, Weber and Nicole Ippolito, current MASD Solicitor and former Lycoming County Assistant District Attorney worked together for former Lycoming County District Attorneys Eric Linhardt (now a Lycoming County Common Pleas Court Judge) and Ken Osokow.

Current Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan Gardner defeated Nicole Ippolito in the 2019 primary; unofficial vote totals were, Gardner, 9,948, and Ippolito, 8,133.

Ippolito currently works for McNerney Page Vanderlin & Hall; the same law firm as Fred Holland, WASD Solicitor.

McNerney Page Vanderlin & Hall is representing former WAHS baseball coach Ryan Miller in litigation against the author of this article.

Miller is one of six individuals named as Defendants in a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit filed yesterday by a former Williamsport Area High School black baseball player who was the victim of an indecent sexual assault by a white teammate during the 2018 team trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Miller joins Holland and Weber as three of six individuals named as Defendants in a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit filed yesterday by a former Williamsport Area High School black baseball player who was the victim of an indecent sexual assault by a white teammate during the 2018 team trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina .

 

Calls to Nicole Ippolito, current MASD Solicitor at her McNerney Page Vanderlin & Hall office were not responded to as she is “out of the office this week.”

A message was left for Grant Evangelisti MASD District Business Manager and Board Secretary earlier today; at this writing it has gone unanswered.

On background, the Bowers own the The Barn at Greystone Farm in Watsontwon, Pennsylvania, it is primarily used as a wedding venue.

According to a May 22, 2022 post and photo gallery on the The Barn at Greystone Farm Facebook page; the venue hosted the wedding of Kelli Vasallo.

From a December 2018 PennLive.com article: “Lycoming County Judge Marc F. Lovecchio Thursday sentenced Kelli S. Vassallo, 38, of Williamsport, who in August had pleaded guilty to charges of institutional sexual assault and corruption of a minor.

She admitted having indecent contact with a 13-year-old girl beginning in June 2013 while she was a coach and having sex in 2009 with a girl who was then 17.

She must register as a sexual offender for 25 years and while on probation, perform 100 hours of community service.

Assistant District Attorney Nicole M. Ippolito accused Vassallo of lying and said the two victims were prepared to go to trial.”

The article goes onto say; “The judge (Marc Lovecchio) accepted the plea only after Vassallo, who taught in the Williamsport district and coached girls basketball in the Loyalsock Twp. district from 2012 to 2015, said: “I am not lying to you.”

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

EXCLUSIVE: Former WAHS black baseball player files federal lawsuit after being sexually assaulted by white teammate

By Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

A member of the 2018 Williamsport High School baseball team who was the victim of an unprovoked and unwanted indecent sexual assault by a teammate, filed a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit on Tuesday afternoon in search of justice in his case.

JOHN DOE#1 is black, his former teammate, criminally convicted in 2021 by South Carolina authorities for the indecent sexual assault is white.

It has been more than four years since the attack occurred in a hotel room during the 2018 baseball team trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The indecent sexual assault was captured on cell phone video by another teammate.

Michael J. McFarland, Esq. attorney with Laffey, Bucci & Kent, LLP offered the following comment when asked about the filing of this case.

“Today we filed this complaint not only to address the damage that childhood sexual abuse has had on our client and the toll inflicted by the exploitation of that abuse when it was distributed on social media. We also aim to hold the institutions and individuals accountable who enabled this abuse to happen in the first place, who utterly failed to respond to this abuse, and who conspired to cover-up their failings. 

These adults, who knew better, acted out of their own self-interests to protect their names, reputations, and the image of the school at the expense of the safety and well-being of this child. These individuals acted together to prevent the truth from being exposed. This case will shine a bright light on those who actively attempted to destroy evidence, silence witnesses, and otherwise cover-up child sexual abuse that happened on their watch.”

Former Lycoming County Detective Willie Weber referred to the incident as a “prank” and failed to provide the video of the incident to Myrtle Beach authorities until five months after receiving a ChildLine report.

Dr. Pardoe, Dr. Roger Freed and Weber collaborated on dual investigations of the 2018 indecent sexual assault.

Dr. Pardoe famously told the mother of VIDEOGRAPHER #1 in her living room; “nothing will ever come of this.”

Dr. Brandon Pardoe, former WAHS head principal was recently promoted to current WASD Director of Student Services.

Greg Stapp also representing JOHN DOE#1, offered the following when asked, is this one of the worst cases of institutional cover-up in your career?

“In more than 25 years of the practice of law, most of which has been in Lycoming County, the only time I’ve seen an institution go to the lengths to cover up a crime(s) was in the Jerry Sandusky cases with Penn State.

However, this is the first time I have seen a school district conspire with a local government entity to not only cover up a crime, but to protect and enable the perpetrator; seemingly to protect the institution itself.”

The following is the entire court filing in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

A jury trial is being demanded by JOHN DOE#1.

 

IMAGES:

Dr. Brandon Pardoe, former WAHS head principal,

current WASD Director of Student Services (top left),

Willie Weber, Former Lycoming County Chief Detective &

Little League World Series Team Host (Uncle) (top middle),

Dr. Roger Freed, former WAHS head principal (top right),

Ryan Miller, former WAHS head baseball coach (middle left),

Sean McCann, WAHS athletic director (middle right),

George Lepley, criminal defense attorney (bottom left),

Fred Holland, WASD solicitor (bottom middle), and 

Josh Shapiro, PA Attorney General (bottom right)

JOHN DOE

c/o Laffey, Bucci & Kent

1100 Ludlow Street, Suite 300

Philadelphia, PA  19107

Plaintiffs,

v.

WILLIAMSPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT, LYCOMING COUNTY, DR. BRANDON PARDOE, ROGER FREED, SEAN McCANN, RYAN MILLER, FRED A. HOLLAND, ESQ., WILLIAM WEBER, in his individual and official capacity, and JOHN and JANE DOEs #1-#20 (ficticious names), whose true identities are currently unknown to Plaintiffs,

 

 

 

Defendants.

 

 

 

 

CIVIL ACTION NO. ___________

 

 

 

 

 

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff, John Doe, by and through his undersigned counsel Laffey, Bucci & Kent LLP and Stapp Law, LLC, hereby brings the following Complaint before this Honorable Court and avers the following in support thereof:

 

JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT

  1. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1331, which gives district courts jurisdiction over all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States. This Court also has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1343, which gives district courts original jurisdiction over any civil action to recover damages or to secure equitable or other relief under any Act of Congress providing for the protection of civil rights.
  2. This Court has supplemental subject matter jurisdiction over all related state claims herein pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367, which gives the federal district courts jurisdiction over all other claims related to claims in the action by which the Court has original jurisdiction that are arising out of the same case or controversy under Article III of the United States Constitution.
  3. Plaintiff brings this action to redress a hostile educational environment where Plaintiff was subject to sexual harassment and has standing to bring forth his claim pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681, as set forth more fully herein.
  4. Plaintiff also seeks redress under the Pennsylvania common law theories of negligence and negligence per se against the Defendants.
  5. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b), since the defendant resides in this district and the events giving rise to the claims occurred in this district.

PARTIES

  1. Plaintiff, John Doe (fictitious, anonymous name), is an adult male whose name and address are not contained in this Complaint so as to protect his privacy and identity as he incurred injuries and damages of a sensitive nature as a minor child as a result of the negligent acts and failures of Defendants outlined below. Information which would or could identify John Doe is not contained herein. Plaintiff may be contacted through his counsel as outlined herein.
  2. Defendant Williamsport Area School District (hereinafter “WASD”) is a school district organized pursuant to the Public School Code of 1949, Act of March 10, 1949, P.L. 30, as amended, 24 P.S. § 1-101, et seq., and maintains an office at 2780 W. 4th Street, Williamsport, PA 17701. WASD operates Williamsport Area High School (“WAHS”), which Plaintiff John Doe attended.
  3. At all relevant times, Defendant WASD was the recipient of Federal Financial Assistance.
  4. Defendant Lycoming County (hereinafter “LC”), is a local government unit and is a county of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with business offices located at 330 Pine Street, Williamsport, PA 17701. LC oversees and/or controls the Lycoming County Office of the District Attorney (hereinafter “DA’s Office”), located at 48 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701, and its county detectives. LC is a “person” as the term is used in 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
  5. Defendant Dr. Brandon Pardoe is an adult individual, employed by the WASD, and was at all relevant times, the Head Principal of WAHS. Pardoe was responsible for ensuring that WAHS provides for the safety and care of children while in the custody of WASD.
  6. Defendant Roger Freed is an adult individual, employed by the WASD, and was at all relevant times, an Assistant Principal of WAHS. Freed was responsible for ensuring that WAHS provides for the safety and care of children while in the custody of WASD.
  7. Defendant Sean McCann is an adult individual, employed by the WASD, and was at all relevant times, the Athletic Director of WAHS. McCann was responsible for ensuring that WAHS provides for the safety and care of children while in the custody of WASD.
  8. Defendant Ryan Miller is an adult individual who was employed as the Head Baseball Coach for WAHS from approximately 2016 until April 2018. Miller was responsible for ensuring that WAHS provides for the safety and care of children while in the custody of WASD.
  9. Defendant Fred A. Holland, Esq., is an adult individual, employed by the WASD, and was at all relevant times, the Solicitor for Defendant WASD. Holland was responsible for ensuring that WAHS provides for the safety and care of children while in the custody of WASD.
  10. Defendant William Weber is an adult individual who was employed with LC as a LC County Detective, assigned to the DA’s Office at all relevant times. Weber is sued in his official and individual capacities for his actions and/or inactions made under color of state law and in violation of Plaintiff’s Constitutional rights as described more fully herein.
  11. Defendants Jane and John Does #1 through #20 are currently unknown by actual name after a reasonable search with due diligence. Defendants Does #1-#20 are believed and averred to have exposed Plaintiff to undue risk and actual harm by putting him in a situation where he could—and ultimately—would be sexually assaulted by another student, who failed to adequately investigate and respond to Plaintiff’s sexual assault, and who conspired to cover up both the assault and their failures to properly investigate and respond to said assault. Defendants Does #1-#20 include, but are not limited to, administrators, school board members, teachers, counselors, coaches, former employees and/or charged agents/employees of Defendants WASD, LC, and other individuals who conspired with the aforementioned defendants and/or are responsible for Plaintiff’s abuse, harassment, and the cover-up of said abuse and harassment..
  12. At all relevant times hereto, Defendants WASD and LC were acting by and through their duly authorized actual and/or apparent agents, servants and employees, in particular, their principals, vice principals, school board, school board presidents, teachers, staff, supervisors, and/or team coaches and/or activity coordinators, acting within the course and scope of their actual and/or apparent agency and/or employment.
  13. Defendants herein are directly and vicariously liable to Plaintiff for injuries sustained as a result of negligence, gross negligence, outrageous conduct, and reckless misconduct as described further herein, as well as for violations of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights as described further herein, by persons or entities whose conduct was under their control, or right to control which conduct directly and proximately caused all of Plaintiff’s injuries.

FACTUAL HISTORY

  1. This lawsuit is about an educational institution that had special responsibilities and obligations to protect the most innocent among us—children and students—from sexual abuse and the complete and abject failures of that same educational institution to fulfill those responsibilities and obligations. Williamsport Area High School (“WAHS”), operated and administered by Defendant WASD, failed in its most basic legal duties to guard against the sexual abuse of a minor. However, this matter is also about the cover-up of abuse perpetrated by Defendant WASD and its staff/representatives/agents, including but not limited to Defendants Dr. Brandon Pardoe, Roger Freed, Sean McCann, Ryan Miller, and Fred Holland in choosing to protect their own reputation and the reputation of WASD at the expense of the safety and well-being of children in their care, custody, and/or control, including Plaintiff.
  2. WASD was able to cover-up abuse perpetrated on Plaintiff John Doe by another student enrolled at WAHS with the assistance of Defendant William Weber, a Lycoming County detective employed by Defendant LC and assigned to the DA’s Office. Together they conspired with WASD and the above-named administrators and employees of WASD to conduct a fraudulent investigation which included the destruction and/or attempted destruction of evidence, the suppression and/or attempted suppression of witnesses, failure to cooperate with law enforcement, falsifying records and/or fabricating information in official investigatory documents, and other acts and omissions further outlined throughout this Complaint which ensured that the perpetrator of Plaintiff’s abuse was able to escape repercussion, thus depriving Plaintiff the opportunity for justice, discriminating against him, and violating his constitutional rights.
  3. Defendants WASD and LC failed in a myriad of ways including, but not limited to: (a) not properly vetting their staff, including Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland and Weber; (b) not properly training and/or supervising their staff; negligently retaining staff they knew or should have known were unqualified to supervise and protect students in their care and custody and/or who were actively working to cover-up the sexual assault of a child; (c) failing to investigate reports of concerning and/or criminal behavior; (d) and failing to have in place any legitimate measures to protect against, investigate, and respond to a student-on-student sexual assault, the very thing that happened to Plaintiff in this suit. Defendants did not simply stick their heads in the sand, they actively obstructed the administration of justice, discriminated against an innocent child victim to protect the perpetrator of a criminal sexual offense, made material misrepresentations to law enforcement and the public, and acted out of self-interest in order to protect the reputation of the school and the baseball team, thereby exposing thousands of vulnerable students to a dangerous environment and, in the process, violating Plaintiff’s Constitutional rights.
  4. The Sexual Assault of Plaintiff
  5. Plaintiff John Doe enrolled as a freshman student at WAHS in the Fall of 2017. Plaintiff was a member of the high school’s baseball team, the Millionaires.
  6. In March 2018, the WAHS baseball team took a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to participate in a tournament of schools from around the country. Plaintiff was able to “earn” his way on this trip by raising his grades in two weeks and receiving the approval of all of his teachers before he could attend.
  7. The team was scheduled to be in Myrtle Beach from March 23, 2018, to March 30, 2018. Accompanying the team, comprised of approximately forty (40) students, were Head Coach Defendant Ryan Miller (“Miller”) and assistant coaches David Heller, Tariq Moore, Kyler Schneider, Nick Caringi, and Joel Worthington.
  8. Several WAHS administrators, including WAHS Principal Defendant Brandon Pardoe (“Pardoe”) and Athletic Director Defendant Sean McCann (“McCann”), both of whom had sons on the baseball team at the time, also made the trip. Defendant Pardoe also had a nephew on the Millionaires baseball team. Outside of the WAHS Baseball coaching staff and administrators, there were no other adult chaperones on the trip.
  9. George E. Lepley, Jr. (“Lepley”), a criminal defense attorney local to Williamsport, was also present in Myrtle Beach at the same time to watch his grandson play baseball in the tournament.
  10. The Millionaires baseball team, under Miller’s name, reserved ten (10) bedrooms at the Atlantica Resort in Myrtle Beach: nine (9) two-bedroom suites and one (1) single bedroom suite. There were no more than two (2) rooms per floor assigned to Miller and the team—rooms were therefore scattered all over the sprawling Atlantica Resort tower.
  11. Students were assigned to bedrooms, despite Defendants WASD, Pardoe, McCann, and Miller denying record of such assignments existing for years subsequent to the events described herein.
  12. Upon information and belief, however, Defendants Pardoe and McCann did not stay with the team at the Atlantica Resort but instead at beach houses.
  13. In fact, some of the WASD administrators there to chaperone the baseball team attended a party at beach house in Garden City, South Carolina, with a portion of the team. Present at the party were Pardoe and McCann and at least ten students. This event was approximately 11 miles from the Atlantica Resort. Upon information and belief, Head Coach Ryan Miller and assistant coaches David Heller, Tariq Moore, Nick Caringi, Kyle Schneider, and Joel Worthington were out in Myrtle Beach at the same time as the party, leaving the rest of the team unsupervised.
  14. One evening during the trip at the Atlantica Resort, Plaintiff was assaulted by at least one teammate while he slept. This student, B.M., sat on Plaintiff and placed his penis on Plaintiff’s face, making skin-to-skin contact with him, while Plaintiff slept. B.M. also placed his bare buttocks on Plaintiff’s face. Plaintiff did not consent to this criminal sexual conduct, which constitutes violations of Pennsylvania criminal statutes prohibiting Indecent Assault (18 Pa. C.S.A. § 3126), and Indecent Exposure (18 Pa. C.S.A. § 3127).
  15. Prior to the assault, B.M., and other students on the team repeatedly used racial slurs to refer to Plaintiff, who is black. After the assault, B.M. and/or other students on the team threatened to lynch Plaintiff if he told anyone about what occurred.
  16. Shockingly, this was not the only sexual assault to take place at the Atlantica Resort involving members of the Millionaires baseball team. Another student, Male Victim #1, was held down by multiple teammates while B.M. sodomized him with a television remote.
  17. The sexual assaults, including the assault of Plaintiff by B.M., was captured on a mobile device by another member of the team, Videographer #1.
  18. Upon information and belief, multiple videos were filmed. The first video shows B.M. in a state of undress, with his pants and underwear around his ankles, and Plaintiff in a room at the Atlantica Resort. Other individuals are heard in the video as being present in the room with B.M. and Videographer #1, including at least two additional WAHS teammates, one of whom is the nephew of Defendant Pardoe. These students are heard laughing. A second video depicts the assault of Plaintiff: B.M. is seen sitting on Plaintiff’s face, placing his penis on the face of the victim. A third video depicts the assault of Male Victim #1, who was held down by multiple teammates and can be heard screaming while B.M. attempts to or does in fact sodomize Male Victim #1 with a television remote. Multiple WAHS players are seen and heard as being present for the assaults in these videos.
  19. Upon information and belief, WASD agents, employees, administrators and/or coaches including but not limited to Pardoe, Miller, and McCann learned of the videos recorded of assault of Plaintiff and the other victims while the WAHS baseball team was still in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. WASD agents, employees, administrators and/or coaches, including Pardoe—the Head Principal of the high school—then unlawfully instructed students on the baseball team to delete any videos they may have taken of the assault.
  20. However, these instructions either fell on deaf ears or were given too late as video of the assault was subsequently shared to the phone of B.M. and also shared on social media with multiple parties on the team and in the WASD community at large.
  21. In fact, B.M. even shared videos of the assault on his phone with other students in the WAHS cafeteria once the team returned to Williamsport. B.M. bragged about what had occurred.
  22. Upon information and belief, the WAHS Baseball team called an emergency meeting the day that B.M. shared the videos of the assault in the WAHS cafeteria. At the meeting, players were again instructed by WASD employees, agents, and/or representatives, to delete any evidence of the assault.
  23. In the days and weeks after returning to Williamsport, Plaintiff was called derogatory names, including “dick lips,” by students at WAHS who had seen videos(s) of the assault.
  24. Shortly after the team returned from Myrtle Beach, Plaintiff was removed from the baseball team by WAHS.
  25. On or around May 18, 2018, a report was made to Lycoming County Children and Youth Services (“CYS”) employees about an alleged sexual assault on some member(s) of the baseball team by other members of the team. These allegations pertained to the assaults of Plaintiff and Male Victim #1.
  26. These CYS employees are mandated reporters pursuant to 63 Pa.C.S. § 6311, et seq. They subsequently made a report to Child Line of the allegations and then contacted Defendant William Weber, then Chief County Detective for Defendant Lycoming County, who worked out of the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office. Weber, in turn, notified WAHS Principal, Defendant Brandon Pardoe, of the CYS report.
  27. In a report that Defendant Weber would author almost five months later in October 2018—the first and only time he drafted an investigative report related to the assault of Plaintiff—Weber recalls informing CYS in mid-May 2018 that he would look into the matter due to his “familiarity” with the WAHS baseball program since his son was previously a member of the Millionaires and Weber himself attended the Myrtle Beach tournament for three years.
  28. Defendant Weber also wrote that he informed Defendant Pardoe that Weber had no jurisdiction over what happened in Myrtle Beach, “but would assist and make referrals if need be.” Weber also told Pardoe that he was “aware of the trip and what usually goes on during the annual trip.”
  29. Both Defendant Pardoe and Defendant Weber are also mandated reporters pursuant to 63 Pa.C.S. § 6311, et seq. Neither ever made a report to Child Line concerning what they learned from CYS.
  30. Upon information and belief, it was also at this time in May 2018 that Defendant Weber gained possession of at least one of the videos depicting the assaults. However, Weber did not take any further action despite also being a mandated reporter and law enforcement official. Weber did not so much as even communicate the allegations of criminal sexual conduct to a single prosecutor in the LC DA’s Office at or around the time he received the report.
  31. Moreover, Weber did not forward the video in his possession to the Myrtle Beach Police Department (“MBPD”) nor contact them about the allegations, despite the MBPD being the proper law enforcement entity to have jurisdiction over the criminal behavior of B.M. in South Carolina.
  32. The Response of WASD and LC to the Sexual Assault of Plaintiff
  33. Not a single individual from Defendants WASD or LC reached out to Plaintiff or his family in the immediate aftermath of the Child Line report. Plaintiff’s family themselves had to contact the school district by placing a call to WAHS Assistant Principal Defendant Roger Freed (“Freed”) on or about May 21, 2018. On this date, Freed denied any knowledge of the assault despite the school’s principal, Defendant Pardoe, being made aware of it on May 18, 2018, at the very latest.
  34. On or about May 30, 2018, Defendants Pardoe, Weber, and Freed met with Plaintiff’s family at WAHS in Pardoe’s office. At this meeting, Plaintiff described what happened to him and provided Weber and Pardoe the names of those involved. Additionally, a video depicting the assault of Plaintiff in possession of the LC DA’s Office was also shown to Plaintiff. Plaintiff confirmed it was him in the video being assaulted. Pardoe and Weber then promised Plaintiff and his mother that they would get back to them—that they would first question those involved and keep them updated thereafter. Plaintiff’s family never told Weber or any employee of WASD that they did not want to press charges against those responsible for Plaintiff’s assault.
  35. In the report Weber would author almost five months later, he recounted this meeting with Plaintiff and his mother on or around May 30, 2018, and falsely reported that Plaintiff did not feel that the video of his assault was passed around much as nobody had mentioned it to Plaintiff during school. This is an outright lie.
  36. Weber concluded his assessment of the evidence in Plaintiff’s case by stating “Clearly this is a hazing/bullying issue that the school properly handed.” Accordingly, Defendant Weber felt “there was no referral to be made.”
  37. In notes that Defendant Weber took contemporaneous to this meeting—not discovered until they were obtained via a search warrant issued by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General—he wrote that B.M. admitted to the sexual assault.
  38. This meeting was the last time anyone from WASD had any contact with Plaintiff and his mother regarding the assault and the investigation into the assault.
  39. On or about the same day, May 30, 2018, Defendant Pardoe also met with Videographer #1 in his office at WAHS. At this meeting, Videographer #1 admitted to filming the assault and explained what happened. Pardoe then explained to Videographer #1 that he would be suspended from the baseball team for two games because he had to deal with a consequence of what occurred. Defendant Weber never interviewed Videographer #1.
  40. At some point close in time to the meeting with Videographer #1, Defendant Pardoe actually came to the home of Videographer #1’s parent(s) and met Videographer #1’s mother. Defendant Pardoe told her to please not talk about what happened, that he had the situation under control, that the case was not going to go anywhere and not to worry about anything. Defendant Pardoe then apologized to the mother of Videographer #1 for having her son miss two games in the baseball season.
  41. Subsequent to his meeting with Videographer #1, Pardoe sent an email to WASD Superintendent Dr. Timothy Bowers (“Bowers”) informing him that the investigation “with regard to the video taken on the Myrtle Beach trip” had begun—twelve days after receiving the Child Line report from CYS.
  42. In this email, Pardoe indicated that he met with Videographer #1, but he does not provide any detail about that meeting. In fact, Pardoe wrote “I can give you more information if we could talk.” Pardoe then states that he requested to meet with B.M., who he refers to as “the student that was videoed doing the act to the other student,” (referring to Plaintiff John Doe) and B.M.’s parents. Pardoe then suggests meeting with the WASD Solicitor Defendant Fred Holland (“Holland”) because B.M. appeared to be getting an attorney. At the conclusion of this email, Pardoe says that he has a recommendation for the interim until he and Bowers could meet in person but does not elaborate further.
  43. On May 31, 2018, George Lepley wrote a letter addressed to Defendants Dr. Brandon Pardoe and Sean McCann, the WAHS Athletic Director, regarding “Misconduct Myrtle Beach.” In this letter, Lepley states that he was contacted by the parents of B.M. regarding “potential criminal charges” and was now representing B.M.
  44. Furthermore, Lepley wrote to Pardoe and McCann that “a substantial number of players engaged in the exact same conduct” he then described as “inappropriate.” Lepley also identified B.M. in the video of the assault. However, Lepley then threatened WASD with civil action and deposing “any and all witnesses” if his client, B.M. was criminally prosecuted for what occurred on the Myrtle Beach trip. Lepley concluded: “Our goal is to make sure that one person is not singled out for conduct committed by a substantial number of team members.”
  45. Lepley then asserted that he would be present for any meeting between WAHS administrators and B.M.
  46. On or about June 1, 2018, Pardoe emailed WASD Superintendent Bowers informing him that a meeting was scheduled for June 5, 2018, with B.M., his parents, and B.M.’s attorney, George Lepley. B.M.’s mother was apparently very defensive in a conversation with Pardoe and informed him that they would not meet with Pardoe without Lepley present. Pardoe also indicated that both B.M. and Videographer #1 would be suspended from baseball practice and play until WASD’s “investigation” was complete.
  47. Furthermore, in his email to Bowers, Pardoe notes that both Defendant Holland and Defendant Weber had spoken to Lepley regarding the matter and that “both of these conversations went well.”
  48. On or about June 4, 2018, Defendant Holland submitted an invoice for services rendered of 0.80 hours and noted that a telephone conference referred to as “Investigation” occurred on May 31, 2018. This conference call included Defendant Pardoe and Lepley.
  49. On June 5, 2018, the WASD School Board was finally made aware of the Myrtle Beach assaults.
  50. On or about July 3, 2018, Holland submitted a second invoice for a meeting he attended on June 5, 2018, regarding a voicemail left by Plaintiff’s family. That same day, Holland attended a meeting with Defendant Pardoe and Lepley at WAHS, which lasted for approximately 1.8 hours.
  51. Plaintiff finished out his freshman year at WAHS but thereafter left WASD due to the repeated harassment he received after the assault and over the summer. The harassment Plaintiff was subject to was never addressed by WASD.
  52. The only punishment WASD imposed upon B.M., Videographer #1, and anyone else involved in or present for criminal sexual abuse of Plaintiff and other students, the recording of said vile acts, and the subsequent publication of those videos was a two-game suspension from the WAHS baseball team. Both B.M. and Videographer #1 were permitted to play in Millionaires games for months after the assaults, including in the twelve-day period between when the Child Line Report was made and the suspensions were enforced. In fact, B.M. was permitted to play in and receive gold medals for winning the PIAA District II/IV District Championship on May 28, 2018, after WASD learned he sexually abused a teammate.
  53. Neither B.M., Videographer #1, nor any other student involved in or present for the criminal sexual abuse of Plaintiff and other students was ever brought before the WASD School Board for a disciplinary hearing for possible expulsion, in contravention to well-established WASD policies and procedures, despite the WASD Superintendent being directly notified of conduct which would warrant such a reaction.
  54. For conduct that would later be referred to as “indecent and inappropriate” by Defendant Holland and “criminal sexual misconduct” by LC District Attorney Ryan Gardner, WASD imposed virtually no punishment for those who committed it.
  55. Moreover, Defendant Pardoe, in conjunction with Defendants Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and others who knew about the assault even prior to the May 18, 2018, Child Line report, conducted a biased and discriminatory investigation which included attempts to destroy evidence and silence witnesses.
  56. Defendant Weber, the LC law enforcement officer in charge of investigating or, at the very least, referring the investigation to a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the matter, likewise conspired with Defendants Pardoe, Freed, Holland and others to destroy evidence, silence witnesses, and conduct a biased and discriminatory investigation. In so doing, Defendants LC and Weber violated Plaintiff’s Constitutional rights.
  57. At all relevant times, Defendants Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, and Weber were duly authorized actual and/or apparent agents, servants and employees of WASD and LC, respectively, and were acting within the course and scope of their actual and/or apparent agency and/or employment with their respective employers.
  • Material Misrepresentations Regarding the Investigation of Plaintiff’s Assault
  1. On August 24, 2018, the “Millionaire Mayhem” story[1] broke—discussing some of the above information. Shortly thereafter, Defendant Weber was contacted by the author of the report, journalist Todd Bartley (“Bartley”), and admitted he was in possession of at least one video of the assault. Defendant Weber then stated that the video would not be sent to MBPD.
  2. On September 28, 2018, Det. Glenn Porter of the MBPD wrote a report indicating he was notified via a request from Bartley regarding the assault of Plaintiff and others at the Atlantica Resort in March 2018. Det. Porter’s report indicates that the MBPD was never informed of the assault, its filming, or its distribution on social media until Bartley’s request came to them.
  3. Porter and Det. Kerry Aiesi of the MBPD then called Defendant Pardoe, who told the two law enforcement officers that Defendant Weber would be the person best suited to answer their questions. Pardoe never informed these law enforcement officials that he had conducted his own investigation, which included interviews of Plaintiff, B.M., and Videographer #1.
  4. Defendant Pardoe therefore purposefully omitted relevant information to law enforcement officials seeking to investigate the sexual assault of a child. He did this despite MBPD describing what happened to Plaintiff as “criminal” and that they would adopt the case because it occurred in their jurisdiction.
  5. Tiffany Whitmire of the MBPD then emailed Defendant Weber requesting further information.
  6. The same day, Sgt. Reeder of the Williamsport Police Department confirmed that their department did not take a report on Plaintiff’s assault. Therefore, no one from LC nor WASD even contacted the local police department regarding the assault of Plaintiff.
  7. Moreover, multiple WAHS school resource officers confirmed to MBPD that they too had no knowledge of the incident. Therefore, WASD did not involve WAHS’s own school resource officers in an investigation of the criminal behavior of one of their students.
  8. In September 2018, Lycoming County Assistant District Attorney Jeff Yates (“ADA Yates”)—who, at this time was the lead attorney responsible for prosecuting juvenile cases in Lycoming County—informed MBPD that he too had no knowledge of Plaintiff’s assault and only learned of the allegations after receiving an email from Bartley requesting a comment. ADA Yates relayed to MBPD that he spoke with Det. Weber after reading the “Millionaire Mayhem” article and, shockingly, was told by Weber that he too had no knowledge of the allegations—which is objectively false.
  9. On or about October 3, 2018, MBPD Det. Porter spoke with Defendant Weber directly. Weber admitted that he was familiar with the allegations surrounding Plaintiff’s assault because it was reported via Child Line. Weber said he received the Child Line report in mid-May of 2018; however, he did not complete a report, but “facilitated the handling of this incident along with the school,” referring to WAHS. Additionally, Weber told MBPD that he did not see anything criminal with what happened in Myrtle Beach “based on Pennsylvania standards” and believed that the matter “appeared resolved”.
  10. At best, Defendants Pardoe and Weber withheld vital information from law enforcement regarding what they knew about Plaintiff’s assault and their subsequent “investigation” of the allegations. However, Defendant Weber knowingly provided false information to ADA Yates.
  11. Additionally, Defendant Weber’s assessment of the evidence in Plaintiff’s assault is indicative of his bias and discriminatory intent and/or his recklessness, gross negligence, and/or negligence with respect to his ability to objectively analyze and investigate reports of criminal sexual conduct as an agent of LC.
  12. On or about October 11, 2018, Weber sent his report and video of the assault to MBPD by regular mail, which was received by MBPD on or about October 16, 2018.
  13. As noted above, in this report, Defendant Weber asserts that: (1) in mid-May 2018 he told CYS that he would look into the matter due to his “familiarity” with the WAHS baseball program and his awareness of the annual Myrtle Beach and “what usually goes on” there; (2) he notified Defendant Pardoe of the allegations, but stated that he had no jurisdiction over the case and would only assist to make referrals “if need be”; (3) he met with Plaintiff and his mother, including the fabricated detail that Plaintiff was not harassed after video of the assault was published on social media; and (4) his ultimate assessment of the matter was that it was “clearly” a “hazing/bullying issue” that Defendant WASD “properly handled,” thus not requiring him to make any referrals whatsoever.
  14. Defendant Weber’s October 2018 report further indicates that it was based on his “limited note taking and [his] memory from May 2018” as he “did not prepare a report at the time” he learned of the assault.
  15. Defendant Weber’s report is completely devoid of any allegations regarding the other students assaulted in Myrtle Beach, including Male Victim #1, who was alleged to have been sodomized by B.M. at the Altantica Resort—an allegation that was received by CYS and was communicated to Defendant Weber in mid-May 2018.
  16. Defendant WASD’s first official statement with respect to Plaintiff’s assault and any subsequent “investigation” was not released until January 9, 2020 and makes several material misrepresentations concerning the District’s response to Plaintiff’s assault.
  17. WASD’s statement[2] reads, in relevant part:

Near the end of the 2017-2018 school year, local law enforcement brought to the district’s attention an alleged incident involving indecent and inappropriate behavior by a baseball player during the team’s spring trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The information had not been previously reported to any district administrator or employee. Once the district was contacted, a prompt investigation was completed and appropriate discipline was issued . . . .

In addition to the district’s own investigation, the matter was investigated by outside agencies, including the Lycoming County District Attorney’s office and law enforcement in Myrtle Beach. When contacted by Myrtle Beach authorities, the high school principal immediately referred them to the district attorney’s office and the district’s school resource officers, who serve with the Williamsport Bureau of Police . . . .

It is important to note that the district first became aware of this incident after law enforcement had already been contacted and a ChildLine report made. The report to ChildLine was not duplicated by the district, as it had already been reported.

The district’s investigation was conducted by the high school principal, district administrators and district legal counsel. Once it became clear which students were and were not involved in the incident, it was apparent that the high school principal had no personal conflict of interest or personal relationships with the students involved.

The principal was permitted by the district’s solicitor to participate in the investigation, and his actions were appropriate and thorough. As an added measure of diligence, a second administrator[3] also participated in the investigation.

The district has communicated with the families of all students involved in the incident to the full extent to which we have been able . . . . [T]he district worked directly with the families of the students involved to provide the most comfortable and appropriate educational setting for the students following the incident, and has at all times aimed to act in the best interest of the students.

The Williamsport Area School District does not condone inappropriate and indecent behavior. The district has fully conducted an investigation of this incident and has transparently cooperated and participated with law enforcement officials.

  1. Defendants Pardoe, McCann and Miller—all WASD employees—knew of the allegations in March 2018 shortly after they occurred. Defendant Pardoe’s own nephew was present for some or all of the criminal sexual behavior, thus making him a personally biased investigator—on top of the apparent racial bias he and others exhibited in the disparate treatment of Plaintiff and B.M. Moreover, WASD had no communication with Plaintiff or his mother since their meeting in late-May, 2018, and they were never informed of the breadth of information the District possessed, the ultimate outcome of the District’s investigation, nor the reasoning behind said outcome.
  2. On or about February 4, 2020, the WASD School Board held a meeting wherein board member Adam Welteroth made a motion to have an unbiased third party investigate the 2018 Myrtle Beach assaults since the District remained silent for months while being subject to many Right to Know requests. His motion was not seconded by a single member of the WASD School Board.
  3. Defendants WASD and LC therefore effectively considered the matter closed without having spoken to Plaintiff in over one and a half years, holding any formal disciplinary hearings for those involved, including B.M., or involving outside law enforcement agencies.
  4. M. was, however, criminally charged in or around February 2021 in South Carolina for his actions in Myrtle Beach in 2018 as a result of an investigation conducted by the MBPD.
  5. The Cover-Up is Exposed by the PA OAG
  6. On or about May 8, 2020, recently elected LC District Attorney Ryan Gardner (“DA Gardner”) referred the investigation of Plaintiff’s assault and the subsequent response to it to the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”).
  7. DA Gardner referred to the events in Myrtle Beach as “criminal sexual misconduct” and indicated that “the appearance of impartiality was severely compromised due to the previous joint investigation by [WASD] administration and this Office,” referring to LC DA’s Office.
  8. The OAG assumed jurisdiction over the investigation of Plaintiff’s assault and Defendants’ cover-up of said assault on May 27, 2020.
  9. In the course and scope of this investigation, OAG agents obtained several search warrants[4] to seize and search Defendant Pardoe’s’ phone, Defendant Weber’s phone and emails, an unredacted version of the letter George Lepley sent to Defendants Pardoe and McCann in May 2018, and any/all files and/or records pertaining to the 2018 WAHS baseball team Myrtle Beach Trip. Defendant Weber and WASD Superintendent Bowers were personally served with these warrants on or about September 3, 2020. These warrants were under seal until September 2021.
  10. Prior to the application of these warrants, OAG investigators were able to inspect the file from the LC DA’s Office, which was maintained by Defendant Weber. The file contained notes indicating that students were instructed to delete videos, that the school district was aware of the assaults while administrators were still in Myrtle Beach, that Defendant Pardoe himself told students to get rid of images, and that Coach Ryan Miller was also aware of the assault(s).
  11. Moreover, the OAG conducted several interviews of key witnesses, including Plaintiff, Videographer #1 and his mother, and LC DA Jeff Yates, who confirmed that Defendant Weber told him he did not know about allegations in August 2018 after the “Millionaire Mayhem” article was published.
  12. Ultimately, however, on or about July 1, 2021, the OAG ended its investigation into the cover-up without filing criminal charges without explanation.
  13. DA Gardner subsequently issued a statement announcing the OAG’s conclusion was reached due to the failure of the LC District Attorney’s Office to create, implement, and enforce any policies governing the conduct of county detectives—specifically, the conduct of Defendant Weber. DA Gardner claimed that those “deficiencies” were identified in January 2020 and, subsequently, policies and procedures were implemented to correct said deficiencies.
  14. Therefore, DA Gardner admitted that LC’s policies and procedures were deficient to adequately ensure that its county detectives were exhibiting proper conduct within the course and scope of their employment.
  15. The OAG warrants were made publicly releasable in September of 2021. Immediately after reviewing them, DA Gardner met with Defendant Weber on or about September 28, 2021, at which point Defendant Weber claimed he was retiring from his employment with LC.
  16. Despite all of this, and the information contained in the OAG search warrants, on or about October 1, 2021, Defendant WASD issued another press release in which the District stated that it “stands by its position that it and its administrators followed all proper procedures and protocols to appropriately respond to the incident in question.”
  17. Defendants WASD and LC, directly and by and through their agents, employees, administrators, staff, and/or representatives were deliberately indifferent towards the sexual abuse and hostile educational environment Plaintiff suffered thereafter.
  18. Furthermore, Defendants WASD and LC, directly and by and through their agents, employees, administrators, staff, and/or representatives exhibited a racial bias against Plaintiff in their disparate treatment of Plaintiff, who is black, and B.M., who is white. Plaintiff was treated less favorably than a white perpetrator of crimes against him.
  19. At all times relevant hereto, Defendants WASD and LC were acting by and through its employees, servants, and agents, in the operation of WAHS and LC DA’s Office, and the hiring, admitting, assigning, retaining, and supervising of administrators, teachers, coaches, staff, faculty members, and law enforcement officials therein. Accordingly, the Defendants are liable vicariously and derivatively for the negligent acts and omissions of these employees, servants, and agents while engaged in the operation of WAHS and LC DA’s Office and the hiring, admitting, assigning, retaining, and supervising of administrators, teachers, coaches, staff, faculty members, and law enforcement officials, including Dr. Brandon Pardoe, Roger Freed, Sean McCann, Ryan Miller, Fred Holland, and William Weber, under theories of respondeat superior, master-servant, agency, and/or right of control.
  20. As a result of the above-described conduct, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer great pain of mind and body, shock, emotional distress, physical manifestations of emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, disgrace, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life; was prevented and will continue to be prevented from performing daily activities and obtaining the full enjoyment of life; has sustained and will continue to sustain loss of earnings and earning capacity; and/or has incurred and will continue to incur expenses for medical and psychological treatment, therapy and counseling.
  21. As a direct and proximate result of the sexual abuse by B.M.—enabled by the failures of the Defendants—and the Defendants’ subsequent acts and omissions, Plaintiff suffered physical and emotional injuries, as more fully set forth in this Complaint. As a result of the abuse, dissemination of said abuse, and cover-up of said abuse via the aforementioned conduct, Plaintiff was severely mentally, psychologically, and emotionally damaged.
  22. Plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer great pain of mind and body, shock, emotional distress, physical manifestations of emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, disgrace, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life. The significant emotional and psychological injuries sustained by Plaintiff dramatically transformed his personality. Throughout his life since the abuse, Plaintiff has struggled with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. As a result of these problems Plaintiff has suffered extreme difficulty in interpersonal relationships, among other problems.
  23. All of the above physical, psychological, and emotional injuries were proximately caused by the negligence, carelessness, recklessness, and other tortious and outrageous acts or omissions of the Defendants as set forth in this Complaint. Plaintiff’s injuries were caused solely by the negligence of WASD, LC, and the individual Defendants as set forth more fully herein and were not caused or contributed thereto by any negligence on the part of Plaintiff.

 

COUNT I

VIOLATION OF TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972

(20 U.S.C. § 1681(a))

John Doe v. WASD, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland and John Does 1-20

  1. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
  2. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C.S. § 1681 et seq., provides, in relevant part, that no person in the United States, shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
  3. If a funding recipient does not engage in harassment directly, it may not be liable for damages unless its deliberate indifference subjects its students to harassment.
  4. A federal funding recipient may be held liable for the harassment of a victim when the recipient exercises substantial control over the harasser and the context in which the harassment occurs. For example, if the continued harassment occurs on school grounds, within the context of a school-related function, or otherwise while in the course and scope of an environment controlled by the federal funding recipient.
  5. While a recipient school cannot be held vicariously liable for the specific acts of sexual harassment or violence, they can instead be held liable under Title IX for their own conduct.
  6. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination for purposes of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C.S. § 1681 et seq., and Title IX proscribes harassment with sufficient clarity to serve as a basis for a damages action. Moreover, an implied private right of action exists under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C.S. § 1681 et seq., and money damages are available in such suits.
  7. Upon information and belief, Defendant WASD is a recipient of federal education funding.
  8. As stated above, Plaintiff was in the care and custody of Defendant WASD when he was abused by a fellow student, also in the care and custody of WASD, in an environment controlled by WASD—an out-of-state athletic team trip sponsored and supervised by WASD.
  9. Plaintiff was subject to sexual abuse in the form of an indecent assault wherein a fellow student sat on his head and placed his penis on Plaintiff’s face, making skin-to-skin contact with Plaintiff.
  10. WASD employees permitted this abuse to occur at a school function due to their deliberate indifference towards the supervision of Plaintiff, the perpetrator B.M., and the other children in the care and custody of WASD. The acts and omissions of Defendant WASD created an environment where this type of sexual abuse was a foreseeable consequence.
  11. Upon information and belief, Defendant WASD was made aware of Plaintiff’s sexual abuse at or near the time of the abuse actually occurring in March 2018. In any event, WASD was, at the very least, notified of the sexual abuse of Plaintiff by way of a Child Line report on May 18, 2018.
  12. When informed of the specifics of the abuse and that there was proof of the abuse, documented on at least one student’s phone, WASD administrators and coaches instructed students to destroy that evidence and keep quiet about what had occurred.
  13. After Plaintiff was abused, and his abuse was publicized within the WAHS community, he was subject to ridicule, name-calling, bullying, torment, and harassment from other students—harassment that was communicated to WASD.
  14. Thereafter, and in conjunction with agents and/or employees of LC, Defendant WASD failed to conduct any meaningful investigation into the sexual abuse and harassment of Plaintiff. What is more, WASD actively conspired to cover-up the abuse and harassment of Plaintiff with its inadequate investigation.
  15. Due to the sexual abuse and subsequent harassment Plaintiff endured, he was forced to transfer out of the school district.
  16. Defendant WASD’s failure to investigate rises to the level of deliberate indifference by attempting to destroy and/or suppress evidence, attempting to silence witnesses, failing to meaningfully discipline B.M., failing to keep Plaintiff and his mother apprised of any actions taken within the investigation and after the conclusion of said investigation, and other acts and omissions described throughout this Complaint.
  17. The deliberate indifference, omissions, actions, and failures to act described above caused Plaintiff to suffer sexual abuse and harassment.
  18. Defendant WASD, by and through the acts of its employees, agents, servants, staff members, teachers, and coaches had a duty to protect the life, liberty, and property of Plaintiff John Doe, and because of its failure to take any precautionary measures to supervise children in their care and custody, Plaintiff suffered sexual abuse.
  19. Defendant WASD, by and through the acts of its employees, agents, servants, administrators, staff members, teachers, and coaches had a duty to protect the life, liberty, and property of Plaintiff, and because of its failure to take remedial measures with regard to the known instances of misconduct by B.M. and other students involved in the assault of Plaintiff, Plaintiff suffered additional harassment in school.
  20. Defendant WASD, by and through the acts of its employees, agents, servants, administrators, staff members, teachers, and coaches failed to comply with Title IX by failing to take any meaningful action with regard to prior reports and observations of inappropriate conduct and/or sexual abuse by B.M. and continued to allow B.M. to stay enrolled at WAHS as a member of the Millionaires baseball team where he, and others to whom he disseminated the video of Plaintiff’s abuse, had the opportunity to harass, ridicule, bully, shame, and torment Plaintiff.
  21. As a direct and proximate cause of the affirmative acts and omissions of Defendant WASD and its employees, agents, servants, staff members, teachers, and coaches that rise to such a level of deliberate indifference, Plaintiff suffered and continues to suffer great pain of mind and body, shock, emotional distress, physical manifestations of emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, disgrace, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life; was prevented and will continue to be prevented from performing daily activities and obtaining the full enjoyment of life; has sustained and will continue to sustain loss of earnings and earning capacity; and/or has incurred and will continue to incur expenses for medical and psychological treatment, therapy and counseling.
  22. Plaintiff’s injuries are severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive, and as a direct result of Defendant WASD’s acts and omissions, Plaintiff experienced a complete loss of educational benefits and opportunities afforded to him.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, and John Does 1-20 in a sum in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

COUNT II

VIOLATION OF 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Plaintiff v. All Defendants

Civil Rights Conspiracy

  1. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
  2. The Defendants, acting within the scope of their employment and under color of state law, agreed among themselves and with other individuals to act in concert in order to deprive Plaintiff of his clearly established Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection under the law.
  3. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Defendants engaged in and facilitated numerous overt acts, including, without limitation, the following:
    1. Intentionally or with deliberate indifference failing to comply with their duty to keep minor students in their custody and care safe from harm;
    2. Intentionally or with deliberate indifference creating an environment wherein Plaintiff was sexually assaulted;
    3. Intentionally or with deliberate indifference creating an environment wherein Plaintiff was harassed, ridiculed, bullied, and tormented;
    4. Instructing individuals to destroy evidence of the assault of Plaintiff;
    5. Attempting to silence witnesses from coming forward about the assault and harassment of Plaintiff;
    6. Failing to comply with the requirements of 63 Pa.C.S. § 6311, et seq., requiring the Defendants to report allegations of child abuse to the proper authorities;
    7. Failing to notify law enforcement officials of the assault of Plaintiff;
    8. Failing to cooperate with law enforcement officials regarding the investigation of the assault of Plaintiff;
    9. Failing to conduct an unbiased investigation into the assault of Plaintiff;
    10. Failing to keep Plaintiff and his family apprised of the status and/or outcome of the investigation;
    11. Falsifying records and/or fabricating information in official investigatory documents;
    12. Intentionally or with deliberate indifference exhibiting a racial bias against Plaintiff;
    13. Committing offenses which would violate the laws of the United States, including but not limited to 18 U.S.C. §§ 242, 249, and 1503;
    14. Committing offenses which would violate the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including but not limited to 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 4904, 4910, 4952, 4958, 5101, and 5301
  4. The acts and omissions by the Defendants WASD, LC, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and John Does 1-20 were made in a willful disregard for the safety of Plaintiff and a reckless or callous indifference for his protected rights.
  5. Defendants’ acts and omissions, as described above, were the direct and proximate cause of Plaintiff’s injuries. Defendants knew, or should have known, that their actions and/or inactions would result in Plaintiff’s grave physical, emotional, psychological and other harm.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, LC, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and John Does 1-20 in a sum in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

 

COUNT III

VIOLATION OF 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Plaintiff v. All Defendants

Violation of Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection

  1. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
  2. The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects Plaintiff from the deprivation of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law and guarantees Plaintiff equal protection of the law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires the Defendants, including Dr. Brandon Pardoe, Roger Freed, Sean McCann, Ryan Miller, Fred Holland, William Weber, and John Does 1-20 to establish policies and practices to protect Plaintiff from known harms and known patterns of constitutional deprivations.
  3. Defendants failed, with deliberate indifference, to provide a safe custodial setting for Plaintiff, by failing to properly train, supervise, and discipline staff at WASD and LC, failing to properly investigate claims of child abuse related to students at WASD, and failing to appoint the proper individuals conduct an adequate, unbiased, and independent investigation of said abuse, as required by law. As a proximate result of Defendants’ policies, practices and customs, the staff at WASD and LC, acting under color of state law, subjected Plaintiff to sexual and emotional abuse, a failure to protect from harm, and other abuses alleged in this Complaint. Defendants WASD, LC, their respective employees, and Dr. Brandon Pardoe, Roger Freed, Sean McCann, Ryan Miller, William Weber, Fred Holland, and John Does 1-20 violated Plaintiff’s Fourteenth Amendment rights when subjecting him to sexual abuse and harassment, and/or endorsing the abusive environment, and/or taking no action to prevent such abuse despite their knowledge of its occurrence and of the abusive environment festering at WAHS.
  4. Defendants acted or failed to act under the color of state law, when they were required to keep minors, including Plaintiff, safe from harm.
  5. Defendants’ acts and omissions as set forth in the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint shock the conscience, deprived Plaintiff of his Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection of the laws, and caused Plaintiff grave physical, emotional, psychological and other harm.
  6. The acts and omissions by the Defendants WASD, LC, Dr. Brandon Pardoe, Roger Freed, Sean McCann, Ryan Miller, Fred Holland, William Weber and John Does 1-20 were made in a willful disregard for the safety of Plaintiff and a reckless or callous indifference for his protected rights.
  7. The acts and omissions by the Defendants WASD, LC, Dr. Brandon Pardoe, Roger Freed, Sean McCann, Ryan Miller, Fred Holland, William Weber and John Does 1-20 as described in the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint, were the direct and proximate cause of Plaintiff’s damages and injuries and are therefore liable to Plaintiff under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Fourteenth Amendment.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, LC, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and John Does 1-20 in a sum in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

 

State Law Claims

 

COUNT IV

 VICARIOUS LIABILITY

Plaintiff v. All Defendants

  1. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
  2. Defendants Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and John Does 1-20 (the “Individual Defendants”) engaged in unpermitted, harmful, and unlawful conduct which not only facilitated the sexual abuse of Plaintiff, but also engaged in such conduct to cover-up the abuse of Plaintiff in violation of Pennsylvania State law. Said conduct was undertaken while the Individual Defendants were employees and/or agents of Defendants WASD (Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, John Does 1-20) and LC (Weber), while in the course and scope of employment with Defendants WASD and LC, and/or was ratified by Defendants WASD and LC.
  3. Prior to or during the time that the Individual Defendants engaged in the conduct alleged above, Defendants WASD and LC knew, had reason to know, or were otherwise on notice of the unpermitted, harmful, and unlawful conduct of the Individual Defendants. Defendants WASD and LC failed to take reasonable steps and failed to implement reasonable safeguards to avoid acts of criminal sexual misconduct and the unlawful suppression of information related to such instances in the future by the Individual Defendants. Furthermore, at no time during the period of time alleged did Defendants WASD or LC have in place a system or procedure to supervise and/or monitor the students in their care on out-of-state athletic trips to ensure that criminal sexual misconduct did not occur; nor did Defendants WASD or LC have in place a system or procedure to supervise and/or monitor their employees, representatives, or agents to ensure that they were not suppressing information related to student criminal sexual misconduct and/or obstructing investigation into same.
  4. Defendants’ WASD and LC knowing acquiescence and silence with respect to the known, or reasonably knowable, activities of the Individual Defendants constituted a course of conduct through which acts of sexual abuse and obstruction of justice were condoned, approved, and effectively authorized.
  5. Through their failure to timely reprimand and sanction the acts referenced herein, and for all of the other reasons set forth in this Complaint including, without limitation, their failure to take the steps necessary to prevent the occurrence of such reprehensible acts, Defendants WASD and LC ratified said actions and, accordingly, are vicariously liable for the actions of its agents, employees, volunteers, staff members, administrators, teachers, coaches, and representatives, including the Individual Defendants.
  6. As a result of the above-described conduct, Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer great pain of mind and body, shock, emotional distress, physical manifestations of emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, disgrace, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life; were prevented and will continue to be prevented from performing Plaintiff’s daily activities and obtaining the full enjoyment of life; has sustained and will continue to sustain loss of earnings and earning capacity; and/or has incurred and will continue to incur expenses for medical and psychological treatment, therapy and counseling.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, LC, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber and John Does 1-20 in a sum in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs

COUNT V

NEGLIGENCE

Plaintiff v. WASD, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland and John Does 1-20

  1. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint the same as if fully set forth hereinafter.
  2. At all relevant times, Defendants owed a duty to maintain a safe educational, athletic, and school environment for the students at WAHS, specifically Plaintiff.
  3. At all relevant times, Defendants had a duty to protect and safeguard Plaintiff from hurt, harm, and danger while he was under their supervision.
  4. At all relevant times, Defendants occupied a position of in loco parentis, and was under a duty to protect Plaintiff, and to provide him with safety and supervision akin to that which would have been provided by his own parents.
  5. At all relevant times, Defendants had a duty to ensure that its employees were properly supervising students in their custody and care to protect them from the exact type of sexual abuse to which Plaintiff was subject.
  6. At all relevant times, Defendants had a duty to provide for Plaintiff’s basic human needs, including the safety of his person and his educational environment.
  7. By accepting custody of the minor Plaintiff, Defendants established an in loco parentis relationship with Plaintiff and in so doing, owed Plaintiff a duty to protect Plaintiff from injury.
  8. At all relevant times, Defendants knew or should have known that their agents, employees, servants, and/or staff members were not qualified to supervise minor students in an environment where a lack of supervision created a risk of foreseeable harm to said minor students, including Plaintiff.
  9. Defendants knew, had reason to know, or was otherwise on notice of the conduct of their agents, employees, and/or staff members who failed to protect the safety of children in their school, including Plaintiff. Yet Defendants failed to take reasonable steps and failed to implement reasonable safeguards to prevent acts of unlawful sexual abuse and to prevent or avoid placement of Plaintiff in functions or environments in which he would be endangered and abused.
  10. Furthermore, at no time during the periods of time alleged did Defendants have in place a system or procedure to supervise and/or monitor its staff and students to ensure that children, including Plaintiff, were not abused.
  11. Moreover, as set forth above, the incidents of abuse occurring when Plaintiff was in the care and custody of Defendants were purposefully shielded from the appropriate authorities. For years, Defendants failed to do anything to properly investigate Plaintiff’s abuse or discipline any of the students and employees or staff members that not only created an environment where such abuse was permitted to occur but also who failed to properly investigate reports of Plaintiff’s abuse which occurred while under their supervision. Defendants’ knowing acquiescence and silence with respect to the known, or reasonably knowable, activities its students during an out-of-state athletic trip and thereafter constituted a course of conduct through which acts of sexual violence and mental torment and the violation of the sanctity of children were condoned, approved, and effectively authorized.
  12. Through its failure to timely reprimand and sanction the acts referenced above, and for all of the other reasons set forth herein including, without limitation, its failure to take the steps necessary to prevent the occurrence of such reprehensible acts, Defendants ratified said actions and, accordingly, is vicariously liable for the actions of their employees, including Dr. Brandon Pardoe, Roger Freed, Sean McCann, Ryan Miller, Fred Holland, and John Does 1-20.
  13. At all relevant times, Defendants failed to adequately and properly:
    1. Employ processes that screen out and/or prevent the hiring of incompetent employees such as Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland and John Does 1-20.
    2. supervise its agents, employees, servants, staff members, administrators, teachers, coaches, and/or students, including B.M., Plaintiff, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland and John Does 1-20, and other individuals that knew or should have known that B.M. sexually abused Plaintiff;
    3. train its agents, employees, servants, staff members, administrators, teachers, coaches, and/or students, including B.M., Plaintiff, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland and John Does 1-20, and other individuals that knew or should have known that B.M. sexually abused Plaintiff;
    4. employ policies that screen out and/or prevent the retention of employees who condone and cover-up sexual abuse;
    5. investigate employees’ background and/or information it knew or should have known during the course of their employment, including that they condone and cover-up sexual abuse.
  14. The negligent, reckless, intentional, outrageous, deliberately and recklessly indifferent and unlawful acts and omissions of Defendants as set forth above and herein, consisted of inter alia:
  15. permitting B.M. to sexually abuse a minor student;
  16. permitting B.M. to engage in illegal sexual conduct with another student within the course and scope of a school-related function while both B.M. and Plaintiff were in the care and custody of Defendants;
  17. permitting and/or allowing an environment in which B.M. violated or engaged in conduct that would constitute violations of Pennsylvania criminal statutes prohibiting Indecent Assault (18 Pa. C.S.A. § 3126), and/or Indecent Exposure (18 Pa. C.S.A. § 3127), and/or Sexual Extortion (18 Pa. C.S.A. § 3133), and/or Sexual Abuse of Children (18 Pa. C.S.A. § 6312), and/or Transmission of Sexually Explicit Images by a Minor (18 Pa. C.S.A. § 6321), constituting negligence per se;
  18. permitting and/or allowing an environment in which the Individual Defendants violated or engaged in conduct, in concert with others, that would constitute violations of Pennsylvania criminal statutes prohibiting Unsworn Falsification (18 Pa.C.S. § 4904), and/or Tampering with Evidence (18 Pa.C.S. § 4910), and/or Intimidation of Witnesses (18 Pa.C.S. § 4952), and/or Obstructing Administration of Law (18 Pa.C.S. § 5101), and/or Official Oppression (18 Pa.C.S. § 5301), constituting negligence per se;
  19. failing to properly and adequately supervise and discipline its employees and/or agents to prevent the sexual abuse that occurred to Plaintiff;
  20. failing to adopt, enforce, and/or follow adequate policies and procedures for the protection and reasonable supervision of children who attend Defendants’ school, including Plaintiff, and, in the alternative, failing to implement and comply with such procedures which had been adopted;
  21. failing to implement, enforce, and/or follow adequate protective and supervisory measures for the protection of students at Defendants’ school, including Plaintiff;
  22. creating an environment that facilitated sexual abuse of students, including Plaintiff;
  23. failing to adopt, enforce and/or follow policies and procedures to protect minors against harmful influence and contact by other students, including B.M.;
  24. violation of duties imposed by Restatement (Second) of Torts, §§ 302B, 314, 315, 317, 323, 324A, 343, 344 and 371 and Restatement (Second) of Agency § 213 as adopted in Pennsylvania;
  25. failing to warn Plaintiff of the risk of harm posed by B.M. after Defendants knew or should have known of such risk;
  26. failing to provide Plaintiff with any assistance in coping with the injuries sustained;
  27. ratifying B.M.’s conduct;
  28. failing to warn Plaintiff of the risk of harm that Plaintiff may suffer as a result of further contact with B.M.;
  29. failing to warn or otherwise make reasonably safe the property which Defendants controlled, leading to the harm of Plaintiff;
  30. failing to adopt/implement and/or enforce policies and procedures for the reporting to law enforcement, Office of Children and Youth, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, authorities within Defendants’ school, and/or other authorities of harmful acts to children;
  31. failing to report B.M.’s harmful acts to authorities within Defendants’ school and/or other authorities, including but not limited to the MBPD;
  32. failing to implement adequate and proper policies and/or by-laws regarding sexual abuse and/or harassment and/or violating its own policies and/or by-laws regarding sexual abuse and/or harassment;
  33. failing to implement adequate and proper policies and/or by-laws regarding use of computers, cell phones, social media and communication by students and/or violating its own policies and/or by-laws regarding use of computers, cell phones, social media and communication by students;
  34. violating the requirements of Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law, 23 § 6311(a) and (b), and/or the Educator Discipline Act, 24 P.S. §§ 2070.1 et seq. constituting negligence per se;
  35. ignoring, concealing, or otherwise mitigating the seriousness of the known danger that B.M. posed;
  36. failing to prevent the sexual abuse that was committed by B.M. on Plaintiff;
  37. allowing B.M. to remain at school after knowing that he sexually abused a student and disseminated video depictions of that abuse on social media;
  38. failing to properly supervise and/or discipline its employees who created an environment in which B.M.’s abuse of Plaintiff was permitted to take place;
  39. failing to adequately and properly train its employees regarding sexual abuse of students; and
  40. negligently managing and/or operating Defendants’ school.
  41. As a proximate and direct result of Defendants’ negligence and/or reckless conduct described herein, Plaintiff was harmed as a result and has sustained physical and emotional injuries, embarrassment, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life and life’s pleasures.
  42. Plaintiff has been and will likely, into the future, be caused to incur medical expenses and Plaintiff may likely incur a loss of earning capacity in the future.
  43. Defendants knew or should have known about the severe risk of their failure to take any appropriate precautions outlined above and acted with a reckless disregard for such risk for which Plaintiff is entitled to and hereby seeks punitive damages pursuant to the requirements of Pennsylvania law.
  44. Defendants’ actions and failures as described herein are outrageous and were done recklessly with a conscious disregard of the risk of harm to Plaintiff for which Plaintiff is entitled to and hereby seeks punitive damages.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, and John Does 1-20 in a sum in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

COUNT VI

NEGLIGENCE

Plaintiff v. LC, Weber, and John Does 1-20

  1. Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint the same as if fully set forth hereinafter.
  2. At all relevant times, Defendant Weber was assigned to the LC DA’s Office as an agent, employee, servant, and/or staff member of LC.
  3. At all relevant times, Defendant Weber, as a law enforcement agent of LC, was a mandated reporter pursuant to 63 Pa.C.S. § 6311, et seq.
  4. At all relevant times, Defendants LC and Weber owed a duty to investigate reports of criminal activity, including sexual abuse, and, specifically, the sexual abuse of Plaintiff.
  5. Defendant LC knew, had reason to know, or were otherwise on notice of the conduct of Weber, who failed to investigate and/or refer for investigation reports of child sexual abuse, including Plaintiff. Yet Defendant LC failed to take reasonable steps and failed to implement reasonable safeguards to prevent Weber from dereliction of his duties as a law enforcement officer tasked with reporting and investigating allegations of child sexual abuse.
  6. Furthermore, at no time during the periods of time alleged did Defendant LC have in place a system or procedure to supervise and/or monitor its employees, agents, and/or staff to ensure allegations of child sexual abuse were reported and investigated.
  7. Moreover, as set forth above, the abuse of Plaintiff was purposefully shielded from the appropriate authorities. For years, Defendant LC failed to do anything to properly investigate Plaintiff’s abuse or discipline any of the students and employees or staff members that not only created an environment where such abuse was permitted to occur but also who conspired to cover-up the abuse that occurred while under their supervision. Defendant’s knowing acquiescence and silence with respect to the known, or reasonably knowable, activities its agents and/or employees who concealed information from law enforcement and conspired with school administrators to cover-up Plaintiff’s sexual abuse and subsequent harassment, constituted a course of conduct through which acts of sexual violence and mental torment and the violation of the sanctity of children were condoned, approved, and effectively authorized.
  8. Through its failure to timely reprimand and sanction the acts referenced above, and for all of the other reasons set forth herein including, without limitation, its failure to take the steps necessary to prevent the occurrence of such reprehensible acts, Defendant LC ratified said actions and, accordingly, is vicariously liable for the actions of their employees, including Weber.
  9. At all relevant times, Defendants failed to adequately and properly:
  10. Employ processes that screen out and/or prevent the hiring of incompetent employees such as Weber;
  11. supervise its agents, employees, servants, and/or staff members, including Weber, and other individuals that knew or should have known that B.M. sexually abused Plaintiff;
  12. train its agents, employees, servants, and/or staff members, including Weber, and other individuals that knew or should have known that B.M. sexually abused Plaintiff;
  13. employ policies that screen out and/or prevent the retention of employees who condone and cover-up sexual abuse;
  14. investigate employees’ background and/or information it knew or should have known during the course of their employment, including that they condone and cover-up sexual abuse.
  15. The negligent, reckless, intentional, outrageous, deliberately and recklessly indifferent and unlawful acts and omissions of Defendants as set forth above and herein, consisted of inter alia:
  16. failing to report allegations of sexual abuse pursuant to 63 Pa.C.S. § 6311, et seq.
  17. failing to open an investigative file on an allegation of child sexual abuse;
  18. failing to generate any written reports on an allegation of child sexual abuse at or around the time the allegation was made;
  19. failing to contact and/or coordinate with outside law enforcement agencies regarding an allegation of child sexual abuse;
  20. failing to inform any prosecuting authority of an allegation of child sexual abuse;
  21. permitting and/or allowing an environment in which Weber violated or engaged in conduct, in concert with others, that would constitute violations of Pennsylvania criminal statutes prohibiting Unsworn Falsification (18 Pa.C.S. § 4904), and/or Tampering with Evidence (18 Pa.C.S. § 4910), and/or Intimidation of Witnesses (18 Pa.C.S. § 4952), and/or Obstructing Administration of Law (18 Pa.C.S. § 5101), and/or Official Oppression (18 Pa.C.S. § 5301), constituting negligence per se;
  22. failing to properly and adequately supervise and discipline its employees to prevent the above described unpermitted, harmful, and unlawful conduct;
  23. failing to adopt, enforce, and/or follow adequate policies and procedures for the protection and reasonable supervision of agents and/or employees, including Weber, and, in the alternative, failing to implement and comply with such procedures which had been adopted;
  24. creating an environment that facilitated dereliction of duties as described above and throughout this Complaint;
  25. failing to adopt, enforce and/or follow policies and procedures to protect minors from unpermitted, harmful, and unlawful conduct on the part of Defendant’s agents and/or employees;
  26. violation of duties imposed by Restatement (Second) of Torts, §§ 302B, 314, 315, 317, 323, 324A, 343, 344 and 371 and Restatement (Second) of Agency § 213 as adopted in Pennsylvania;
  27. failing to warn Plaintiff of the risk of harm posed by Weber after Defendants knew or should have known of such risk;
  28. failing to provide Plaintiff with any assistance in coping with the injuries sustained;
  29. ratifying B.M’s conduct;
  30. failing to adopt, enforce and/or follow policies and procedures to communicate with victims of crime and/or utilize victim assistance programs or agencies to do so;
  31. failing to warn Plaintiff of the risk of harm that Plaintiff may suffer as a result of further contact with B.M.;
  32. failing to adopt/implement and/or enforce policies and procedures for the reporting to law enforcement, Office of Children and Youth, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and/or other authorities of harmful acts to children;
  33. failing to report B.M.’s harmful acts to authorities both within LC and/or other authorities, including but not limited to the MBPD;
  34. failing to implement adequate and proper policies and/or by-laws regarding sexual abuse and/or harassment and/or violating its own policies and/or by-laws regarding sexual abuse and/or harassment;
  35. failing to implement adequate and proper policies and/or by-laws regarding the recognition of criminal offenses, the retention and/or spoliation of evidence, interviewing witnesses, contacting and cooperating with victims of crime, contacting and cooperating with outside law enforcement agencies when necessary, and other functions essential to law enforcement and/or violating its own policies and/or by-laws regarding use of computers, cell phones, social media and communication by students;
  36. violating the requirements of Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law, 23 § 6311(a) and (b), and/or the Educator Discipline Act, 24 P.S. §§ 2070.1 et seq. constituting negligence per se;
  37. ignoring, concealing, or otherwise mitigating the seriousness of the known danger that B.M. posed;
  38. failing to investigate the sexual abuse that was committed by B.M. on Plaintiff;
  39. failing to take any law enforcement action against B.M. knowing that he sexually abused a student and disseminated video depictions of that abuse on social media;
  40. failing to adequately and properly train its employees regarding sexual abuse of minors; and
  41. negligently managing and/or operating its county detectives, including Weber.
  42. As a proximate and direct result of Defendants’ negligence and/or reckless conduct described herein, Plaintiff was harmed as a result and has sustained physical and emotional injuries, embarrassment, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life and life’s pleasures.
  43. Plaintiff has been and will likely, into the future, be caused to incur medical expenses and Plaintiff may likely incur a loss of earning capacity in the future.
  44. Defendants knew or should have known about the severe risk of their failure to take any appropriate precautions outlined above and acted with a reckless disregard for such risk for which Plaintiff is entitled to and hereby seeks punitive damages pursuant to the requirements of Pennsylvania law.
  45. Defendants’ actions and failures as described herein are outrageous and were done recklessly with a conscious disregard of the risk of harm to Plaintiff for which Plaintiff is entitled to and hereby seeks punitive damages.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants LC, Weber, and John Does 1-20 in a sum in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

COUNT VII

NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

Plaintiff v. All Defendants

  1. Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint the same as if fully set forth hereinafter.
  2. Defendants by and through their contact with Plaintiff, as described above, negligently and/or recklessly committed multiple acts of extreme and outrageous conduct which caused severe emotional, psychological, and psychiatric injuries, distress, and harm to Plaintiff, which also manifested in physical injuries to Plaintiff as set forth above in an extreme, outrageous, and harmful manner.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, LC, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and John Does 1-20 in a sum in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

COUNT VIII

INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

Plaintiff v. All Defendants

  1. Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint the same as if fully set forth hereinafter.
  2. Defendants by and through their contact with Plaintiff, as described above, intentionally committed multiple acts of extreme and outrageous conduct which caused severe emotional, psychological, and psychiatric injuries, distress, and harm to Plaintiff, which also manifested in physical injuries to Plaintiff as set forth above, in an extreme, outrageous and harmful manner.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, LC, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and John Does 1-20 in a sum in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

COUNT IX

NEGLIGENT FAILURE TO RESCUE

Plaintiff v. All Defendants

  1. Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint the same as if fully set forth hereinafter.
  2. The negligence and recklessness of Defendants in directly and proximately causing the injuries and damages to Plaintiff described herein, include:
    1. failing to take reasonable and necessary steps to rescue the Plaintiff after placing him in a position of harm;
    2. failing to exercise reasonable and necessary steps to prevent further harm after rendering Plaintiff in danger of further harm;
    3. failing to take reasonable and necessary steps to give aid or assistance to Plaintiff after rendering him in danger of further harm;
    4. failing to take reasonable steps to obtain aid or assistance for the Plaintiff after rendering him danger of further harm;
    5. failing to take reasonable and necessary steps to prevent the delay in the appropriate care of Plaintiff; and
    6. violation of the duties set forth in Restatement (Second) of Torts, Sections 314A & 322, as adopted in Pennsylvania.
  3. As a proximate and direct result of Defendant’s breaches described in the preceding paragraph, Plaintiff sustained psychological and physical harms and injuries as described above.
  4. The aforementioned incidents resulted from the negligence, recklessness and/or intentional acts of Defendants and was due in no manner whatsoever to any act or failure to act on part of Plaintiff.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, LC, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and John Does 1-20 in a sum in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

COUNT X

NEGLIGENCE PER SE

Plaintiff v. All Defendants

  1. Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint the same as if fully set forth hereinafter.
  2. Defendants, individually, derivatively, and in concert with each other, engaged in the aforementioned conduct, which would constitute violations of Pennsylvania criminal statutes prohibiting Unsworn Falsification (18 Pa.C.S. § 4904), and/or Tampering with Evidence (18 Pa.C.S. § 4910), and/or Intimidation of Witnesses (18 Pa.C.S. § 4952), and/or Obstructing Administration of Law (18 Pa.C.S. § 5101), and/or Official Oppression (18 Pa.C.S. § 5301).
  3. Defendants’ violations constitute negligence per se under Pennsylvania law.
  4. Defendants’ negligent, reckless, and/or intentional failures to report criminal acts allowed B.M. to disseminate videos of his abuse of Plaintiff, causing continuing harm to Plaintiff and the injuries and damages described above.
  5. Defendants’ negligent, reckless, and/or intentional failures in investigating or responding to Plaintiff’s allegations of abuse caused Plaintiff the injuries and damages described above.
  6. Such failure on part of Defendants was reckless, intentional, knowing, grossly negligent, deliberately and recklessly indifferent, outrageous, malicious, and/or was a reckless and conscious disregard for the safety of Plaintiff.
  7. Defendants’ failures to report pursuant to their legal obligation under either Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law (PCPSL), 23 § 6311(a) and (b) et seq. and/or the Educator Discipline Act, 24 P.S. §§ 2070.1 et seq. as well as the conduct which would violate the criminal laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania proximately caused the harm to Plaintiff and the injuries and damages described above.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, LC, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and John Does 1-20 in a sum more than Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

COUNT XI

CIVIL CONSPIRACY

Plaintiff v. All Defendants

  1. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
  2. As outlined above and upon information and belief, Defendants WASD, LC, and their respective employees, agents, staff, administrators, directors, teachers, coaches all knowingly and willfully conspired and agreed among themselves to misrepresent to and conceal from the public, including, but not limited to Plaintiff and his family, information relating to his and other students’ sexual abuse and/or their investigation of and response to such abuse and/or their intent regarding consequences to be faced by B.M. and others who they knew participated in the abuse of Plaintiff and other students. This conspiracy continues to this day as all Defendants have claimed privately and publicly that their investigation of and response to Plaintiff’s abuse was prompt, appropriate, and thorough.
  3. The Defendants conspired to keep the abuse of Plaintiff and other WAHS students from the public, as well as appropriate law enforcement authorities. Instead of informing the public, Plaintiff, and/or appropriate law enforcement authorities about such instances of abuse, Defendants intentionally and falsely told Plaintiff, the public, and appropriate law enforcement authorities that what occurred was merely “indecent” and/or “inappropriate” rather than criminal sexual behavior.
  4. Further, the Defendants likewise conspired to keep their investigation of and response to the abuse of Plaintiff hidden from the public and appropriate law enforcement authorities. Defendants conspired to: destroy evidence; silence witnesses; make back-room deals to protect perpetrators of abuse rather than Plaintiff, the innocent victim of a sexual assault; falsify records and/or fabricate information contained in official law enforcement documents; and other activities described throughout this Complaint in an effort to minimize the seriousness of the abuse and any corresponding embarrassment or reputational harm Defendants would face as a result of the abuse. Instead of informing the public, Plaintiff, and/or appropriate law enforcement authorities about such instances of abuse, Defendants intentionally and falsely told Plaintiff, the public, and appropriate law enforcement authorities, among other things, that Defendants first learned of the abuse via local law enforcement, that the matter was investigated by outside agencies including the LC DA’s Office, that the individuals conducting the investigation were not biased, that Defendants had communicated with families of all students involved, and that the conduct of B.M. and other students towards Plaintiff was not condoned.
  5. In furtherance of said conspiracy and agreement, Defendants engaged in fraudulent representations, omissions and/or concealment of facts, acts of cover-up and statements. Defendants were purely motivated in this regard for the purposes of protecting their own interests at the expense of innocent children, including Plaintiff.
  6. All of the actions of Defendants set forth in the preceding paragraphs were in violation of the rights of Plaintiff and committed in furtherance of the aforementioned conspiracies and agreements. Moreover, each of the aforementioned individuals lent aid and encouragement, and knowingly financed, ratified and/or adopted the acts of the other. As a proximate result of the wrongful acts herein alleged, Plaintiff has suffered significant damage as outlined above.
  7. These acts constituted malicious conduct which was carried on the Defendants with willful and conscious disregard for Plaintiff’s rights with the intention of willfully concealing incidents of abuse and harassment, and was despicable conduct by any measure that subjected Plaintiff to cruel and unjust hardship, so as to justify an award of exemplary and punitive damages. Accordingly, punitive damages should be awarded against Defendants to punish them and deter other such persons from committing such wrongful and malicious acts in the future.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants WASD, LC, Pardoe, Freed, McCann, Miller, Holland, Weber, and John Does 1-20 in a sum more than Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars, and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, in compensatory damages and punitive damages, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interests and costs.

 

Dated: ____9/6/22____

LAFFEY, BUCCI & KENT, LLP

BY:                                                                                  

Brian D. Kent, Esq.

Gaetano D’Andrea, Esq.

Michael J. McFarland, Esq.

Jillian P. Roth, Esq.

LAFFEY, BUCCI & KENT, LLP

1100 Ludlow Street, Suite 300

Philadelphia, PA 19107

(T): (215) 399-9255

(E): bkent@lbk-law.com

gdandrea@lbk-law.com

mmcfarland@lbk-law.com

jroth@lbk-law.com

 

STAPP LAW, LLC

 

                                                      BY:           /s/ Gregory A. Stapp                                      

Gregory A. Stapp, Esq.

STAPP LAW, LLC

153 West 4th Street, Suite 6

Williamsport, PA 17701

(T): (570) 326-1077

(570) 651-9420

(E): gstapp@stapplaw.net

                                                                        Attorneys for Plaintiff

[1] See Bartley, Todd, Millionaire Mayhem, TalkWilliamsport.com, August 24, 2018, https://talkwilliamsport.com/millionaire-baseball-mayhem-in-myrtle-beach/, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”.

[2] See A true and correct copy of Defendant WASD’s Statement on the “Myrtle Beach Incident,” attached hereto as Exhibit “B”. Upon information and belief, Defendant Holland authored all or the majority of this statement.

[3] Upon information and belief, “second administrator” refers to Defendant Freed.

[4] See copies of these search warrants attached hereto as Exhibits “C”, “D”, and “E”.

 

 

Fully executed and filed complaint is available here with exhibits: Plaintiff’s Complaint

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

Gov. Wolf Secures Agreement with Legislative Leaders on Constitutional Amendment Supporting Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

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NEWS@TALKWILLIAMSPORT.COM

Legislative leaders agree to work toward swift second passage of constitutional amendment early next legislative session

August 31, 2022

Governor Tom Wolf today announced that legislative leaders have agreed to prioritize a constitutional amendment early next legislative session (2023-24) that would open a two-year window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits.

“I want to first reiterate my deep regret and sincerest apologies to victims for the process error that prevented this issue from being decided upon by the voters this legislative session. I have fought for an immediate legislative solution to this issue and have been working with legislators to determine the clearest path forward,” Gov. Wolf said. “After speaking directly with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle, I’m pleased that they have committed to prioritize second passage of a constitutional amendment early next session. I am grateful for this agreement so that survivors can seek a path forward toward justice.”

In 2021, the General Assembly approved a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution to provide for a two-year window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file previously time-barred claims. Constitutional amendments must be approved during two consecutive legislative sessions before being put on the ballot, so the constitutional amendment could be on the ballot for the voters to decide in 2023.

Simultaneously, the governor and legislators called for a more direct legislative path. Unable to reach an agreement before now, the governor had planned to call a Special Session to address the issue. However, after consultation with Senate Republican Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), House Republican Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre, Mifflin), Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia), as well as Representative Mark Rozzi (D-Berks), who authored legislation seeking this two-year window through statute, and Representative Jim Gregory (R-Blair), who authored the constitutional amendment, Governor Wolf and these members agreed that the constitutional amendment process is the current best path forward.

“Without question, all victims of childhood sexual abuse should have the ability to face their abusers. As I have consistently stated, the constitutional amendment is the strongest legal position to bring closure to this matter for all victims (public and private),” said Senate Republican Leader Ward. “Remaining true to our commitment, we plan to take the next step in the constitutional amendment process in the next legislative session, just as we have in previous legislative sessions, and consistent with the multiple legislative actions already taken to protect children and families from such heinous acts.”

“The Pennsylvania House has taken up and passed this proposed constitutional amendment in three different legislative sessions,” said House Republican Leader Benninghoff. “Next session we will once again remind our caucus of the unique circumstances that lead to the fourth consideration of this constitutional amendment and the need to continue to lead on an issue so important to many victims and families across Pennsylvania.”

“Survivors of childhood sexual abuse deserve the opportunity to seek justice and the Senate Democratic caucus is ready to ensure this happens through a constitutional amendment,” said Senate Democratic Leader Costa. “This commitment is a positive step and I am committed to making it a priority early next year.”

“Victims deserve justice, and I’m confident Pennsylvanians will deliver justice when this question is put to the voters as a constitutional amendment,” said Democratic House Leader McClinton. “Our caucus has stood alongside Representative Rozzi as he has tirelessly advocated for this measure, and we’ll continue to stand with the victims of abuse until they get the opportunity they deserve. This will be a priority for us when the legislature convenes for a new session in January.”

The governor thanked Representatives Rozzi and Gregory, both survivors of childhood sexual abuse, for their passionate leadership and advocacy on behalf of Pennsylvania survivors.

“Victims and survivors alike deserve their day in court and they certainly deserve to know the truth, whether it is about their perpetrator or the institution that aided and abetted these heinous crimes,” Rep. Rozzi said. “There must be accountability for the reprehensible murder of each child’s soul.”

“As we approach the two-year mark of victims having to wait again to pass this constitutional amendment, I am pleased that this legislation has not been forgotten by my colleagues in leadership,” Rep. Gregory said. “For me, the victims waiting two more years haven’t been forgotten for one day. The commitment to get it on the ballot next spring is a must.” 

The governor also thanked Senate and House Judiciary Committee Chairs Senators Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming) and Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) and Representatives Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) and Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery) for their efforts to prioritize this issue in their committees.

“My personal commitment to survivors is to push through the constitutional amendment as soon as possible in the new session,” Sen. Baker said. “Further, because the outcome of a referendum on an amendment is never certain, I will also introduce legislation to make the change statutorily, if necessary.”

“We must continue to support the courageous survivors who have fought for justice, and this commitment to moving forward through a constitutional amendment is good progress,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “This must be a top priority for all of us as a legislature when we return to a new legislative session in January.”