Parents: Novi School Officials Did Nothing to Stop Son's Sexual Abuse

The parents of a 13-year-old Novi Middle School student are suing the district in federal court, alleging that he was sexually assaulted by another student over a period of several months and school officials did nothing to protect their son.

The 43-page complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, names the school district and four members of the staff as defendants, the Observer & Eccentric reports.

The parents allege their son, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, was abused on an almost daily basis by the perpetrator, who suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and an unspecified mood disorder, according to the complaint. Both are students in the school’s special education program.

The alleged systematic abuse, which reportedly occurred from September 2013-February 2014, involved intimidation, threats, coercion, grooming, and manipulation, according to the complaint.

The complaint states the boy’s parents should have been notified of the alleged incidents of improper touching under school district’s policies and bylaws, as well as policies set forth in each student’s school-issued planner.

Had the parents been notified, the 13-year-old would have been spared months of molestation, abuse, and terror, according to the complaint.

On Wednesday, Novi Community Schools Superintendent Steve Matthews confirmed in an email to parents that the lawsuit had been filed and the media were reporting on it, but said he couldn’t discuss specific details.

“What I can tell you unequivocally is that providing a quality education in a safe learning environment for each and every student is our foremost concern,” he wrote. “We consider these allegations serious and are responding accordingly.”

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