New Lawsuit Against Paramus Catholic Alleges Decades of Covered-Up Coaching Abuse
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, The legal storm surrounding Paramus Catholic High School and the Archdiocese of Newark intensified this month as a new lawsuit brings harrowing allegations of systemic sexual abuse against a former coach and athletic director.
This latest filing marks the third such lawsuit in just three months, further exposing a dark chapter in the history of one of North Jersey’s most prominent Catholic institutions.
The Allegations: “Cup Checks” and Locker Room Terror
The plaintiff, an unnamed former student, alleges that the abuse began in 1985 when he was a 14-year-old freshman. The suit identifies the predator as Bernard Garris, a former gym teacher, hockey coach, and athletic director who died in 2016.
According to the complaint, Garris used his position of authority to subject students to “fitting” sessions for athletic equipment. The victim claims Garris forced him to strip to a jockstrap for “cup sizing,” a tactic used to touch the minor inappropriately up to 16 times a month.
The lawsuit details a culture of open misconduct, alleging:
-
Public Abuse: Garris allegedly performed “cup checks” on students in front of other coaches and players.
-
Locker Room Voyeurism: The coach reportedly sat naked on a chair inside the showers while minors bathed.
-
Physical Violence: The suit claims Garris whipped players with whistles and withheld water during practices as a form of “mental and physical abuse.”
A “Culture of Silence” at Paramus Catholic
Perhaps most damaging is the claim that school officials and the Archdiocese “turned a blind eye” to Garris’s behavior despite numerous witnesses. The lawsuit describes Garris as a “notorious serial sexual abuser” who has now been credibly accused by at least 20 former students.
As of 2026, the litigation continues to grow. By late 2021, at least 11 suits had already been filed regarding Garris. This newest case argues that the “power imbalance” and the victim’s devout Catholic upbringing were weaponized to ensure his silence for decades.
The Lasting Impact
The survivor, now an adult, states that these early experiences led to a lifetime of struggle, including:
-
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
-
Severe Depression and Anxiety
-
Chronic feelings of shame and worthlessness
The Archdiocese of Newark, through spokeswoman Maria Margiotta, has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: [email protected]
-
Tags: #ParamusCatholic #ArchdioceseOfNewark #NJNews #Lawsuit #JusticeForSurvivors #ParamusNJ #CampusSafety
I graduated from PC in the late 70s. Bernie was coarse but I never heard any of this. And I had a few friends on the hockey team.
Of course Bernie is not here to defend himself.