Lawsuit Says Officials Knew of Alleged Sexual Abuse by Middle School Teacher

HOLLISTON-HOPKINTON, MA—Civil suits were filed by two former students and their families, alleging that a former Hopkinton teacher sexually abused the girls at Hopkinton Middle School after other students had reported similar actions.

The suits were filed in August of 2012, reports Wicked Local.

The suit alleges new details that William Howard, a former science teacher at the school, regularly touched sixth-grade girls and officials knew about it back to 2005, reports The Boston Globe. Howard resigned in 2010.

Former superintendent John Phelan and former principal William Lynch are named in the suit, alleging that officials did not act even after knowing of the alleged abuse.

One plaintiff, who is a freshman in college now, said she was touched by Howard "multiple times a day," reports the Globe, and that she had been beaten by him. A parent of another student testified that she found Howard with her daughter, and their legs were touching with his hand on her thigh.

Howard was never charged, and his attorney said he didn't do anything wrong, and Howard denies any misconduct. The school's attorney argues that the school responded appropriately. The suit says the alleged molestation happened in the classroom, hallway and a storage room.

Read the full report in the Boston Globe.