Lawsuit says custodian molested girl at school

A student alleging she was sexually molested by a school custodian four years ago is now suing the man, the Clark County School District and the nonprofit Nevada Business Services Inc.

In a lawsuit originally filed June 15 in District Court, the student alleges that a custodial supervisor attacked the girl, then 15, during a summer job interview in July 1994. The girl had called Nevada Business Services, which sent the girl to Hinman Elementary School in Henderson for the interview.

School district lawyer Bill Hoffman said the custodian alleged to have assaulted the girl is no longer employed by the district and that the district followed proper procedures in handling the case. He would not comment further.

The lawsuit alleges that the district "should have known that (the custodian) was likely to commit this kind of sexual assault upon a person such as the plaintiff." The lawsuit also alleges that the district "ratified and affirmed" the custodian's behavior.

Hoffman vehemently denied both charges. He said the district always does background checks on employees.

"The district did not do anything wrong in this matter," Hoffman said. "We're denying any negligence."

The lawsuit would not fall under Monday's Supreme Court ruling that school districts cannot be held responsible for employees charged with sexual harassment or abuse if administrators did not know about it. The lawsuit specifically alleges a charge of sexual molestation, which is different from harassment or abuse.

The lawsuit seeks $20,000 in general and specific damages, alleging that the student suffered "fear, anxiety, shame and further mental and emotional distress and indignation, all to her general damage."

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