BUCKHEAD, Ga. — One of metro Atlanta’s most prestigious schools is being hit with a sexual assault lawsuit.
Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston was at Pace Academy, where two female students said they were sexually assaulted by a football player. Two lawsuits filed in Fulton County allege the assaults happened in 2017 and 2018.
The suits claim that the school knew about the first assault and let the suspect back on campus. Six months later, the same suspect sexually assaulted another student, according to the suit.
C.K. Hoffler is the victims' attorney. They are only being identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2.
Hoffler said Jane Doe 1 was assaulted while on campus by a star football player.
“She tried to report it to a teacher, and a teacher blew her off,” Hoffler said. “Pace Academy was like her second home.”
Hoffler said the same football player assaulted Jane Doe 1 two more times.
“Pace actually questioned the veracity of her story and did not support her,” Hoffler said. “She had been at Pace since the third grade.”
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Hoffler said the first victim left schoo,l and six months later, the same star football player assaulted Jane Doe 2.
“The young man was tried in a juvenile court and he was convicted,” Hoffler said.
Pace is a prestigious private school. Starting in sixth grade, tuition costs $31,000 a year.
Huddleston reached out to school leaders, who sent him a statement, reading:
“Pace Academy is aware of a lawsuit filed against the school on Sept. 24, 2020. In accordance with school policy, Pace Academy fully cooperated with the Atlanta Police Department throughout its investigation of the incident in question. The school does not comment publicly on ongoing litigation.”
Hoffler said the victims are suing for monetary damages, but they also want changes at the school including training for teachers and staff on how to report and listen to students who say they have been victimized.
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