Local

Orting family alleges first-grade classmate sexually assaulted daughter

Classroom file photo

A family is suing the Orting School District alleging their 6-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by her first-grade classmate last school year.

The News Tribune reports the girl's parents, who aren't being named to protect the identity of the child, say district employees were informed of the classmate's "propensity to act out sexually with her peers." They blame the district for not protecting their daughter.

The suit filed last week says the parents even notified the district before the abuse occurred that their daughter had post-traumatic stress disorder and was "susceptible to sexual abuse."

  • Early in the school year, the family's daughter began having problems behaving at school.
  • Her mother met with school administrators and staff members in October to explain to them that the girl had post-traumatic stress disorder, was "susceptible to sexual abuse" and required a safety plan.
  • The school assured the family it would protect the girl.
  • The parents were concerned about their daughter "because of a past experience with a neighbor," said Amanda Searle, the Tacoma attorney representing the family. She declined to further describe that incident or what had caused the daughter's PTSD.
  • When the daughter tried to complain about the other student to teachers, the lawsuit contends she was told not to tattle on others.

Seattle attorney Don Austin, who is representing the district, says the district has different views than the girl's family on the facts of the case.

The district hasn't yet filed an official response to the allegations.