Two former Meadowdale High School students have sued the Edmonds School District for sex discrimination.
The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, was filed July 20 in Snohomish Superior Court on behalf of plaintiffs Cambria Smith and Latrina Woods by Tacoma attorney Thaddeus Martin.
The suit alleges the school allowed school para-educator Kevin Mooney, who works in the school’s computer lab, to create a hostile environment for the students because of their sex.
The civil suit says Mooney regularly made comments about the girls sexuality, made sexual gestures and touched Smith’s hair in a sexual way. The suit alleges that Mooney made comments about the body parts of other girls. The district failed to protect the students from sexual harassment, the suit claims.
The suit claims the two girls were retaliated against for bringing forth allegations about Mooney to school officials.
When reached by The Enterprise, Mooney declined comment.
“I’m not at liberty to discuss the case at any point at all,” he said.
The district’s insurance provider, Washington Schools Risk Management Pool, is representing it in the matte, said. Marla Miller, assistant Edmonds School District superintendent. She could not provide further comment by Enterprise deadline.
Both girls were senior starters on the Meadowdale girls basketball team until they were kicked off the team in February for their role in an off-campus fight with a teammate, school officials said at the time.
The other player involved in the incident was suspended and then allowed to return to the team. Smith and Woods were punished more harshly because they had complained to school officials about the earlier harassment, Martin said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
