WARNING: This story contains graphic sexual descriptions and explicit language
The headmaster at Brentwood Academy Thursday morning released a full statement responding to a lawsuit that alleges the mishandling of a student rape and sexual assault.
Lawsuit Claims Multiple Rapes Went Unreported at Brentwood AcademyFrom Curt Masters, Brentwood Academy Headmaster:
“At no point before or during the investigation in 2015 did I (or anyone on our staff to my knowledge) hear any allegation of rape. When we heard of inappropriate activity, we responded immediately and thoroughly, cooperated fully with the authorities, and took appropriate disciplinary action based on what we knew. Certain allegations in the lawsuit and highlighted in the media are not factual, will be disputed, and our defense will be vigorous. Certain statements attributed to me are simply not true. Because of our policy of not discussing details of a lawsuit, I cannot elaborate on additional details.
I also want to emphasize that the information reported in the media has been obtained from the lawsuit itself that was filed in the county clerk’s office. The document does not, however, include Brentwood Academy’s response to each allegation. We will have the opportunity to address each individual accusation in our formal legal reply which will be filed in the near future.
We take any allegations involving our students’ safety very seriously. In review, you can be certain of these facts:
-That we responded immediately and cooperated fully with investigations by the authorities once we became aware of concerns in 2015
-That in 2015 and now, we do not tolerate harassment, bullying and any assault by one student against another
-Our faculty and staff are trained about mandatory reporting, and comply with the law
-When we are made aware of a matter that needs to be reported, we do so without delay
-If we hear of inappropriate behavior, we actively investigate, intervene and if necessary, discipline our students, and this includes expulsion
-We work actively to create a culture of respect among our students in a variety of ways
-We will respect the confidentiality and privacy of our current and former students.”
The lawsuit, filed last week, claims that Brentwood Academy mishandled the rape and sexual assault of a sixth-grade boy by other students.
Filed Friday in Williamson County Circuit Court by the boy and his mother, the suit claims that during the 2014-2015 school year, the boy, 12-years-old at the time, was a victim of a series of sexual assaults and rapes in the Brentwood Academy 6th through 8th grade locker room and other places by four other boys in 6th through 8th grade. The four boys are named B.B., C.D., C.M. and R.G in the suit. R.G., the suit states, has now reached the age of 18.
The suit, which asks for $60 million in damages, alleges that Brentwood Academy officials did not properly supervise the locker rooms during gym class and that, when the behavior came to their attention, they mishandled it and tried to prevent it from being reported. Headmaster Curtis G. Masters, Middle School Director Nancy Brasher, Middle School Athletic Director Buddy Alexander, Assistant Basketball Coach Lyle Husband and sixth-grade basketball coach Mike Vazquez are all named as defendants in the suit, along with the school.
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