ETHS Settles Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Retired Drama Teacher

EVANSTON, IL — The Evanston Township High School District 202 Board of Education approved a $100,000 settlement Friday with four former students over allegations of sexual abuse by a retired drama teacher. The settlement was authorized unanimously at a special board meeting a day after the district and high school were removed from three pending Cook County civil suits accusing the school of failing to protect students from sexual harassment and abuse by Bruce Siewerth, who taught at ETHS from 1965 to 1999.

A trio of lawsuits was filed in fall 2017 on behalf of two unnamed and one named plaintiff against the school, board and its former employee. A fourth man is expected to file suit against Siewerth in the coming weeks, according to his attorney. The settlement has ended the district's involvement in the four men's claims, although the suit against Siewerth, currently in the discovery phase, will continue.

The three suits said it was an "open secret" at ETHS that Siewerth abused male students in the school's theater program and as director of the school's student-run performance showcase, YAMO. In October 2017, as the school prepared to hold a 60th anniversary celebration of the show amid the emergence of the #MeToo movement entertainment industry, alumni shared experiences of groping, harassment and other inappropriate sexual conduct.

Several former students, including prominent Hollywood producers and writers, spoke publicly about their experiences with the former teacher. One described Siewerth as a "serial pedophile and abuser." The district responded by notifying Siewerth on Oct. 12, 2017 that he was banned from school property and events and would be charged with trespassing if he were to return. Six days later, ETHS Superintendent Eric Witherspoon apologized for the pain resulting from the allegations, saying the school now has comprehensive policies to avoid similar circumstances and was cooperating with a police investigation.

Evanston police opened an investigation into the abuse allegations, identifying 35 men as victims of Siewerth. Police said dozens more witnesses corroborated the claims, with incidents taking place both at school and not at school. But the most recent reported criminal sexual abuse was no later than graduation in 1992, according to Cmdr. Ryan Glew. The investigations were closed and no criminal charges were filed after prosecutors said all the incidents fell outside the statute of limitations.

Siewerth has declined to respond to multiple requests for comment since Patch first reported the allegations, although he denied any wrongdoing. He suggested to a newspaper that his accusers must be upset because they were not cast in his productions and told a television station that his contact with students had been misinterpreted.

According to a statement from Witherspoon announcing the settlement, the district still says that it was never aware of any of the allegations against Siewerth, but it has been working to find a way to avoid "costly and drawn out litigation" through negotiations between administrators, attorneys and the board.

"Through the parties’ dialogue, the plaintiffs and the School District have reached a unique settlement that meets both the plaintiffs’ and the School District’s goal to create a positive solution out of intolerable circumstances," Witherspoon said. Instead, the $100,000 will be spent to support district-sponsored programs for ETHS students "that address sexual assault awareness, reporting, and prevention."

Mike Mertz, the Evanston lawyer representing the four former students, said he was also pleased with the settlement. He acknowledged there were substantial legal and practical complications involving allegations that date back to the late 1970s and early 1980s and said the goal of the settlement was to effect positive some possible change and make people aware of the problem. His clients, he said, had no interest in causing any financial harm to the district.

"The current administration had nothing to do with the allegations," Metz said. He said neither his clients nor his firm would receive any part of the monetary settlement, which will be disbursed at a rate of $10,000 a year over the coming decade."They're going to make sure this never happens again."

The suits said that Siewerth emotionally manipulated and intimidated his students, fondled the genitalia of teen boys under his supervision and took students to see "hardcore gay pornography" on a trip to New York City.

The settlement was approved with a 4-0 vote by board President Pat Savage-Williams and members Gretchen Livingston, Patricia Maunsell and Mark Metz. Absent at the Jan. 18 special meeting in the superintendent's office were Vice President Monique Parsons and members Jonathan Baum and Jude Laude.

Witherspoon said the district "reemphasizes its empathy for any individuals that may have been victimized and is grateful a resolution could be reached that benefits ETHS students and the greater Evanston school community."

The suits against Siewerth, a longtime Glenview resident, in his personal capacity, will continue with hearings March 1 in Chicago before separate judges. Stephen Komie, Siewerth's attorney in the civil proceedings, has not responded to a request for comment.

UPDATE: Siewerth and the three men reached out-of-court settlements and the cases were dismissed on July 31 and Aug. 19

Related:

• Sexual Abuse Allegations Leveled Against Former Drama Teacher
• District 202 'Deeply Sorry' About Sexual Abuse Allegations
• Two Former ETHS Students Sue, Alleging Sex Abuse By Drama Teacher
• Third Student Sues Over Drama Teacher's Alleged Sexual Abuse
• Statute Of Limitations Expired For Teacher Accused Of Abuse