Joseph Koetters, a teacher at Los Angeles' private Marlborough School was sentenced to a year in jail for abusing two students. When one of these students sued the school for failing to protect her, Marlborough blamed her for the teacher's actions toward her and other students.
The plaintiff was abused in the early 2000s, but didn't come forward until 2014, when she read an account of another student's abuse at the hands of Koetters. Now, the school blames her for not coming forward sooner. Marlborough's lawyers say, “[The plaintiff was] negligent and careless and said negligence and carelessness contributed to and proximately caused the injuries and damages." They also blamed her for Koetter's abuse of the other student, saying, "[The plaintiff] “consciously exposed other girls to the risk of abuse at Koetters’ hands.”
Girls and women are afraid to come forward about their abuse, especially when the abuser has power over them, as in a teacher-student relationship. Blaming victims for coming forward at any time reinforces this fear. Please sign the petition to urge the Marlborough School to apologize to the victim for blaming her for Koetter's actions!
I am concerned that statements from the Marlborough School appear to blame a victim of Joseph Koetter's abuse for coming forward "too late."
The plaintiff was abused in the early 2000s, but didn't come forward until 2014, when she read an account of another student's abuse at the hands of Koetters. Now, the school blames her for not coming forward sooner. Marlborough's lawyers say, “[The plaintiff was] negligent and careless and said negligence and carelessness contributed to and proximately caused the injuries and damages." They also blamed her for Koetter's abuse of the other student, saying, "[The plaintiff] “consciously exposed other girls to the risk of abuse at Koetters’ hands.”
Girls and women are afraid to come forward about their abuse, especially when the abuser has power over them, as in a teacher-student relationship. Blaming victims for coming forward at any time reinforces this fear. I respectfully urge you to apologize to the victim for blaming her for Koetter's actions. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this petition.
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