Lawsuit Filed Against Pingry School For Sex Abuse Of Student

BASKING RIDGE/SHORT HILLS, NJ — A lawsuit was filed Tuesday against Pingry School by a former fifth grader who was reportedly sexually molested by a teacher at Pingry in the 1970s. The suit alleges that Pingry was aware of the sexual abuse and hid it from the public and parents of students.

An investigation was launched by the school in the spring of 2016 and concluded in March 2017, which found that more than two dozen students were sexually abused by Thad "Ted" P. Alton Jr., who worked as a teacher and assistant principal at both school locations in Basking Ridge and Short Hills. (See Related: At Least 27 Pingry Students Were Sexually Abused By Former Teacher, Investigation Finds)

The complainant, only identified as M.F., said that during his fifth and sixth grade years Alton served as his lacrosse coach, scout leader, teacher and advisor.

During that time frame, Alton sexually abused M.F. and was sexually inappropriate toward him. In the middle of sixth grade, M.F. stopped participating in lacrosse and scouts in order to avoid Alton, the suit states.

"Likely because the abuse was emotionally traumatic and overwhelming, as a child M.F. pushed the abuse out of his mind and never spoke of it to anyone," according to the lawsuit.

It wasn't until M.F.'s father listed only as J.F. forwarded a letter from Pingry in April 2016 about sexual abuse at the school did his memories of the abuse surface.

“Pingry shall be held accountable for the consequences of permitting and concealing for decades the shameful and widespread sexual abuse of young students,” said Justin Walder, who is one of the attorneys in the law firm of Pashman Stein Walder Hayden (PSWH) representing the former fifth grade Pingry student.

The lawsuit, filed by PSWH in the Superior Court of New Jersey in Essex County, alleges that Pingry knew about the sexual abuse and failed to intervene and protect its students. (See Related: Victims Say Pingry Knew of Sexual Abuse Allegations, School Denies Claims)

"Alton was investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office in 1979 and criminally convicted of multiple 'acts of lewdness,' including masturbation, involving 12-year-old Pingry students. Yet, Pingry, for its own selfish purposes and benefit, failed to notify parents so that they could ensure that their children were safe and were provided any necessary professional care," according to a release by PWSH.

As a result of the school's letter and resurfacing of his memories, M.F. says he has been "greatly distressed and struggled with intense feelings of shame, depression, anger and anxiety."

The suit brings forward 11 counts of allegations against Pingry including a request for punitive damages and demands a trial by jury on the issues.

"We deeply regret the pain our survivors experienced while at The Pingry School, and we are grateful for their bravery in having come forward. We are steadfastly committed to helping our survivors to heal and move forward," said Pingry School Headmaster, Nathaniel E. Conard. "As we continue to prioritize the culture of safety and well-being that our students deserve, we will review this claim with the same attention and compassion with which we have reviewed the claims of our other survivors."

(Image: Thad "Ted" P. Alton Jr.)

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