Decades Later: A Lawsuit Alleges Abuse at a Bergen County Elementary School
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
A former student has come forward with disturbing allegations of sexual abuse that he claims occurred at George G. White Elementary School in Hillsdale, New Jersey, in the early 1980s. The unnamed plaintiff has filed a lawsuit against the Hillsdale Board of Education, the school, and the district, stating they failed in their duty to protect him from a now-deceased teacher.
The lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court, alleges the abuse was committed by second-grade teacher Howard Schultz between 1981 and 1982. The plaintiff, who was around seven or eight years old at the time, is seeking to hold the institutions accountable for the harm he suffered.
Allegations and Accountability
According to the lawsuit, the abuse began with “touching and massaging” and escalated into more “horrific and brutal abuse.” The plaintiff claims the teacher would keep him after school under the guise of being a “classroom helper” for tasks like cleaning blackboards, which is when the abuse allegedly took place.
The attorney for the plaintiff, Scott G. Leonard, emphasized the critical role schools play in protecting children. “Schools are entrusted with safeguarding children,” Leonard stated. “When they fail in that duty, the consequences can last a lifetime.” The lawsuit seeks to give the survivor a voice and hold the institutions responsible, even decades after the alleged events.
As of September 9, Hillsdale Schools Superintendent Robert Lombardy said the district had not yet received the formal complaint and declined to comment further on the case.
This case highlights the ongoing legal and ethical challenges surrounding historical child abuse allegations and institutional accountability. It also underscores the long-lasting impact such trauma can have on survivors, no matter how much time has passed.
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I would assume the plaintiff has been so miserable to the point that it took over 40 years to decide that he/she was entitled to compensation…………………………………..
Let me guess…the teacher in question has since passed and cannot defend himself / herself.