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Pair of Blaine families sues school district over sexual assault, Title IX claims

Pair of Blaine families sues school district over sexual assault, Title IX claims

Blaine High School, where both claimants say the incidents occurred. Photo: Saga Communications/Dave Walker


BLAINE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A pair of lawsuits have been filed in federal court against the Blaine School District over separate sexual assaults involving the same suspect.

According to court documents, the families of the two minor students claim that the district violated Title IX in their handling of the assault investigations.

In one instance, the victim was sexually assaulted in a secluded part of a classroom during a lunch period.

The second victim was in a dating relationship with the suspect, and reported unwanted contact with the suspect in a different part of campus.

Both victims reported the assaults to school officials, and Title IX investigations both concluded that no one was at fault in either scenario.

Sexual assault protection orders were later issued against the suspect, but both plaintiffs’ families say that Blaine School District refused to enforce the orders unless safety plans were established.

Both families are looking to have their cases heard in front of juries.

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