Lawsuit Alleges Abuse at Pinewood Prep

A lawsuit filed Monday claims Pinewood Preparatory committed gross negligence in hiring and retaining Louis "Skip" ReVille as a teacher and coach until 2006, and that a student was subjected to sexually abusive behaviors by ReVille at the school.

Head of School Carolyn Baechtle told Patch on Monday that while ReVille worked there administrators "received no complaints of sexual impropriety." 

"We received no notice of incidents," Baechtle said.

ReVille was not offered to renew his contract with the school due to classroom instruction and not due to any behavioral complaints by parents, Baechtle said. Baechtle is filing in this year as head of the school until a new headmaster starts next July. 

But . One parent told Patch that the school "diminished what I had to say."

. Recently, . The Summerville private school is not in the department's jurisdiction, however. 

Monday's civil lawsuit is against the school and its former headmaster Glyn Cowlishaw, according to a statement released by the lawfirm Motley Rice LLC.

The victim, referred to as John Doe, alleges that from 2004 until ReVille left Pinewood Prep, ReVille subjected him to sexually abusive behaviors numerous times. At that time the victim was a middle school student. 

Doe vs. Pinewood Preparatory School and Glyn Cowlishaw (Case No. 11-CP-18-02510) alleges that the school and Cowlishaw breached their duty of care and committed gross negligence in the hiring, supervision and retention of ReVille as a teacher and coach, according to the statement. The filing also claims civil conspiracy.

ReVille has identified the victim as one of his victims to criminal investigators, according to the statement.

"In our opinion, silence among the adults at Pinewood Prep about ReVille's behavior allowed him to continue to operate unchecked in our community. Our goal is to help our client begin to heal and prevent similar tragedies. We believe there is additional information about ReVille's actions in the community and encourage anyone with more information to come forward," attorney Laura Khare said in the statement.

ReVille held multiple teaching, coaching and volunteer positions in the Charleston area. Those include: The Citadel, Coastal Christian Preparatory School, Bishop England High School, Moultrie Middle School, Rollings Middle School, Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department, Velocity Sports Performance and Eastbridge Presbyterian Church.

Doe seeks actual and consequential damages as well as punitive damages.