--- title: "Anaheim School District Settles Abuse Case" meta: "og:description": "Anaheim school district settles childhood sexual assault lawsuit for $198,700 after teacher grooming and abuse allegations." "og:title": "Anaheim School District Settles Abuse Case" description: "Anaheim school district settles childhood sexual assault lawsuit for $198,700 after teacher grooming and abuse allegations." --- September 18, 2025 # **Anaheim School District Settles Abuse Case** Anaheim school district settles childhood sexual assault lawsuit for $198,700 after teacher grooming and abuse allegations. [**Assault**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case/jury-verdict/category/assault) ### **Outline** Author ![](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/profile_images/shared_image_1.webp) **Sohini Chakraborty****Sohini Chakraborty is a lawyer, with over two years of experience in legal research and analysis. She specializes in working closely with expert witnesses, offering critical support in preparing legal research and detailed case studies.** ![Article Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/default_1.webp) Krystal Slocum sued Anaheim Union High School District, alleging childhood sexual assault by her teacher David Sepe. She claimed AUHSD ignored red flags and failed to act, allowing continued abuse. The case sought damages for emotional distress and loss of daily function. AUHSD denied liability, citing immunity and procedural defenses. On February 14, 2025, the parties reached a settlement, resolving all claims for $198,700, with dismissal confirmed in March 2025. ### Case Background Krystal Slocum attended Savanna High School in Anaheim during the early 2000s. At the time, David Sepe served as a history teacher under the Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD). Plaintiff alleged that Sepe exploited his role to groom and abuse her while she was a minor. AUHSD employed Sepe, supervised his work, and controlled his access to students. Slocum later filed this action under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.1, as amended by Assembly Bill 218, which extended the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual assault. ### Cause Plaintiff claimed Sepe used his authority as a teacher to initiate grooming behaviors that were visible to other staff and students. She alleged he spent excessive time with her during lunch and after school, invited her to his apartment, and sexually assaulted her repeatedly. Teachers observed warning signs, including favoritism and flirtation, but AUHSD failed to act. Even after another student reported abuse and Sepe was arrested, AUHSD allowed him to remain employed within the district. Plaintiff argued AUHSD ignored red flags, suppressed concerns, and shielded Sepe, creating unsafe conditions for minors. ### Injury Slocum stated the abuse caused long-lasting harm. She described severe emotional distress, shame, and humiliation from the assaults. She reported physical manifestations of anxiety, loss of trust, and difficulty carrying out daily activities. According to the complaint, these injuries diminished her quality of life and prevented her from enjoying normal activities. ### Damages The complaint sought general, special, and consequential damages. Plaintiff requested compensation for emotional suffering, physical impacts of distress, and loss of daily function. She also demanded statutory damages, litigation expenses, court costs, and interest. The total damages were to be determined at trial but alleged to exceed the Superior Court’s jurisdictional minimum. ## Key Arguments and Proceedings ### **Legal Representation** - **Plaintiff(s):** Krystal Slocum - **Counsel for Plaintiff:** Brian L. Williams | Jemma E. Dunn | Bailee B. Pelham | Michael Reck | Hagerey Mengistu - **Defendant(s):** Anaheim Union High School District - **Counsel for Defendant:** Randall L. Winet ### Claims Slocum raised two causes of action. First, she alleged negligence, asserting AUHSD failed to supervise Sepe, ignored warning signs, and neglected its duty of care to students. Second, she alleged negligent supervision and retention, claiming AUHSD knowingly retained Sepe despite red flags, failed to monitor his conduct, and placed students at risk. Both claims sought to hold AUHSD directly and vicariously liable for Sepe’s misconduct. ### Defense The Defendant, Anaheim Union High School District, filed a general denial of all allegations in the Complaint and raised multiple affirmative defenses. The District asserted that the Complaint failed to state a valid cause of action and lacked a statutory basis under the California Government Code. It argued that Plaintiff did not present a required government tort claim, failed to exhaust administrative remedies, and that any claims were barred by applicable statutes of limitation. The District also claimed immunity under various provisions of the Government Code, including discretionary immunity, and denied legal causation for Plaintiff’s injuries. Further, the District contended that Plaintiff’s claims should be reduced or offset under California law, and that liability, if any, must be apportioned among all responsible parties. It emphasized that the alleged perpetrator’s actions were unforeseeable, outside the scope of employment, and constituted a superseding cause. The District also raised defenses based on failure to mitigate damages, constitutional violations, improper retroactive application of law, laches, and estoppel. Finally, it argued that school district liability required proof of negligent hiring, supervision, or retention, not assumptions, and denied any entitlement to attorney’s fees. ### Settlement On February 14, 2025, the parties reached a settlement, as confirmed in the Notice of Settlement of Entire Case filed on March 20, 2025. Plaintiff’s counsel, Jemma E. Dunn of Greenberg Gross LLP, filed the notice, with Michael Reck of Jeff Anderson & Associates also representing the Plaintiff. Defense counsel was Randall L. Winet of Winet Patrick Gayer Creighton & Hanes. The settlement resolved all claims, and the Plaintiff agreed to dismiss the case. The total settlement amount was $198,700. ## **Court Documents** Court documents are available for purchase upon request at [Jurimatic@exlitem.com](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case/mailto:Jurimatic@exlitem.com) [Share with Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case) [Share with X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case&text=x) [Share with LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case) [Share with Email](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case/mailto:?body=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case&subject=email) [Share with WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case%20whatsapp) ### **Find your next Expert Witness today** ![Sanjay Adhia](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Sanjay Adhia** Forensic Psychiastry ![George Reis](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **George Reis** Forensic Imaging ![Maria Babinetz](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/anaheim-school-district-settles-abuse-case/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Maria Babinetz** Vocational Rehabilitation Find and retain experts without brokerage or upcharge. ### Looking for more? 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