A former student at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School is suing the Waterloo Region District School Board for $5 million for sexual abuse he says he suffered at the hands of his former teacher starting in 1991.
The man, now 46 and living in Welland, said he met the teacher when he was 13.
He claims the teacher "sexually, verbally and physically abused, assaulted and molested" him while he was a student at the high school.
None of the allegations have been tested or proven in court and the school board has filed a notice of its intent to defend the action.
A statement of claim filed by the former student earlier this month holds the school board accountable for failing in its "duty of care" to protect him because of the level of trust extended to the high school, its principals, teachers and employees.
The claim says the school board breached that duty for the plaintiff.
The plaintiff claims the teacher "used his position as a teacher at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School...to develop a close personal relationship" with him while he was a student there and to "exert influence and control over him, prey upon him and sexually abuse him."
The plaintiff alleges "that in order to facilitate abuses," the teacher engaged in a pattern of behaviour intended to make the plaintiff "feel that he was special" in his eyes.
The plaintiff alleges that at all material times the teacher was acting in the course of his duties and was using the rules, principles, and policies of the school board to further his attempts to manipulate the plaintiff and engage in deviant activities.
The statement of claim says the teacher was in a position to organize extracurricular activities with the student, giving him an opportunity to foster a trusting and intimate relationship "for a considerable period of time without the risk of getting caught."
Since the plaintiff was dependent upon the teacher for education, the claim says he "was vulnerable to any abuse, influence, and or wrongful exercises" in the teacher's powers.
The claim says the school board denied or "was wilfully blind to the existence" of the abuse.
The plaintiff alleges he has suffered damages from the abuse, including physical and mental pain and anguish, depression and loss of enjoyment of life. He says he continues to suffer from the experience and it has impaired his employment and ability to develop and engage in normal human relationships.
He's undergone medical treatment and psychological counselling throughout his life all of which has added up in terms of economic losses.
The claim says the conduct of the school board was "harsh, high-handed, malicious and, as such should be punished with aggravated and/or punitive damages."
