Decades of Silence Broken: 16 Former Students File Mass Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Against Leonia School District

Leonia School District Faces Wave of Sexual Abuse Lawsuits From Former Students

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Leonis NJ, The Leonia Board of Education and Anna C. Scott Elementary School in Bergen County are facing a slate of major new civil lawsuits from 16 former students alleging widespread sexual abuse by a former teacher, John Anagnosti.

The filings, submitted on July 22, accuse the school district and local authorities of failing to protect children despite decades of warning signs, previous criminal convictions, and complaints from concerned parents.

Attorney John Baldonte, who represents the plaintiffs, noted that while the suits were initially filed together, a judge directed that they be submitted individually before being combined later. Baldonte believes the scope of the alleged misconduct could involve at least 100 victims who passed through Anagnosti’s classroom over a 15-year span.

An Alleged Decades-Long Pattern of Exploitation

The lawsuits outline an extensive pattern of grooming and severe physical and emotional abuse. According to court documents, Anagnosti targeted vulnerable students—often offering treats like ice cream, pizza, and after-school activities—to gain their trust before abusing them in his classroom, in his vehicle, and at his personal apartment.

Plaintiffs detail severe long-term trauma resulting from the abuse, with some reporting hundreds of incidents. Several former students noted that they suppressed memories of the abuse for decades until recent public disclosures by fellow survivors inspired them to step forward.

Plaintiff Paul King spoke publicly at a June 2025 Leonia Board of Education meeting, urging others to share their experiences to begin healing:

“There’s a saying that a crisis is a terrible thing to waste. This crisis has been going on for over 50 years, and it’s been wasted by multiple boards, mayors, pillars of the community, for 50 years.”

Systemic Failures and Historic Community Backlash

The complaints highlight severe historical institutional failures dating back to the 1960s and 1980s:

• 1982 Conviction & Defense Fund: Anagnosti was convicted of molesting a 9-year-old boy in 1982 but received only three months of probation. At the time, local community members and the town’s then-mayor raised $10,000 for his defense.

• Dismissed Parent Complaints: Several parents who attempted to report Anagnosti to school officials, local police, and county prosecutors were routinely dismissed. In one instance, a principal described allegations as “merely a misunderstanding of gentle teacher affection,” while local police refused to accept reports.

• Retaliation Against Whistleblowers: Families who attempted to expose the teacher faced public ostracization, threats, and in one case, an arrest for handing out warning flyers to town residents.

Past Settlements and Legal Framework

This is not the first time the district has faced legal accountability regarding Anagnosti. The Leonia Board of Education previously reached a $6 million settlement with brothers Joseph and Michael Gonzales, as well as a separate settlement with Dan Schlademan, founder of the abuse survivor network Voices of Leonia.

The latest lawsuits allege violations of New Jersey’s Child Victims Act, gross negligence, negligent supervision and retention, breach of fiduciary duty, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The filings were made possible following New Jersey’s expanded legal windows for historic civil sexual abuse claims.

General counsel for the Board of Education stated that the board is not providing comment on the merits of the ongoing litigation, referencing public statements on its policy pages regarding current student safety protocols.

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• Categories / Tags: Bergen County News, Leonia NJ, Education Legal News, New Jersey Breaking News, Child Victims Act