New Motion Filed In Pingry Lawsuit For Sex Abuse Of Student

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — A motion to compel discovery was filed in the lawsuit against The Pingry School by the law firm representing a former fifth grader who was reportedly sexually molested by a teacher at Pingry in the 1970s.

The suit, filed in March by the law firm of Pashman Stein Walder Hayden (PSWH), alleges that Pingry was aware of the sexual abuse by Thad "Ted" P. Alton Jr. — who worked as a teacher and assistant principal at both school locations in Basking Ridge and Short Hills — and hid it from the public and parents of students. (See Related: At Least 27 Pingry Students Were Sexually Abused By Former Teacher, Investigation Finds)

The new motion specifically requests that the Superior Court of New Jersey—Essex County compel The Pingry School to produce witness summaries, sworn witness statements, and/or transcripts of depositions that have been taken of victims who alleged sexual abuse by Alton during the school's investigation.

Sexual abuse allegations against Alton were made in 2016 by alumni of Pingry, causing the school's board of trustees to hire T&M Protection Resources to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations. The school said its investigation confirmed the abuse by Alton, who was employed by the Pingry School between 1972 and 1978.

"We were heartsick to learn the extent of his pattern of abuse," the school said previously in a release.

According to the investigation, the abused students interacted with Alton in his capacity as teacher, coach, administrator, camp counselor at Camp Waganaki and scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop #64.

After Alton left Pingry, it was uncovered that at least one board member found out about the allegations against him a year later, which led to his arrest in the fall of 1979. However, the school did not notify the full parent or faculty communities at that time.

“These documents, including witness statements and deposition transcripts,” explains Justin Walder, Co-Chair of PSWH’s Litigation Department, “will shed light on what Pingry knew about Thad Alton’s sexual abuse of students and when Pingry knew or should have known it.”

Specifically the new motion wants to be able to see Exhibit F within the Certification of Dennis T. Smith, which shows a Sept. 18, 2003 e-mail from a former Pingry student alerting Pingry of Alton's sexual abuse of others. This would contradict the March 28, 2016 letter to the Pingry Community, in which Pingry contends that it had only 'recently learned that its students were sexually abused by Alton, according to PSWH.

“Pingry has sought to present itself as being committed to ‘providing an environment that promotes safety, candor, and transparency’ but in reality Pingry has refused to provide statements of victims and sworn testimony of Thad Alton's sexual abuse of young students. Pingry has not been transparent. Pingry is attempting to cover up the true facts and evade its duty and responsibility to a former Pingry student and his family,” said Walder.

Pingry told Patch they "do not have a comment at this time."

• See Related: At Least 27 Pingry Students Were Sexually Abused By Former Teacher, Investigation Finds
• Related: Victims Say Pingry Knew of Sexual Abuse Allegations, School Denies Claims
• Related: Lawsuit Filed Against Pingry School For Sex Abuse Of Student

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

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