The Iowa Court of Appeals rules the Davis County School District is not liable for damages in a student sexual assault case.
Sarah Lindemulder and her parents, Deborah and Daniel alleged the school district was at fault and should be liable for damages after Sarah had a sexual relationship with coach Patrick Nicoletto, and high school teacher Ryan Grinstead.
This happened during her junior and senior years from 2007 to 2009. The lawsuit said the school district had a duty to protect Sarah from the abuse, but the district court threw out the claim.
The Iowa Court of Appeals backed the district court, saying in part there was no evidence that the school board was even notified of the sexual abuse and harassment. The ruling also says there was no evidence that the abuse happened in the course of the teaching and coaching duties of the two men.
Grinstead, who was a math teacher, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a student and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Nicoletto was found guilty of sexual exploitation of a student and sentenced to 5 years in prison. His conviction was later thrown out by the Iowa Supreme Court which ruled he was not a teacher because he had a coaching authorization, but not a teaching license.
See the full ruling here: Davis County ruling PDF