Former Student Sues Bronx’s Fieldston School, Alleging Sexual Abuse by Volleyball Coach
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School in Riverdale is facing a lawsuit from a former student who alleges that a volleyball coach, Collin Henry, sexually abused her during her time at the school.
Allegations of Abuse
The lawsuit, filed on February 20, alleges that Henry targeted the former student during her junior and senior years from 2004 to 2006. According to the complaint, Henry manipulated, isolated, and groomed the plaintiff before subjecting her to repeated sexual abuse and rape.
The woman has filed suit against the school, Henry, and another staff member, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the alleged abuse. The lawsuit also accuses Ethical Culture Fieldston School and junior varsity volleyball coach Lynford Foreman of negligence, alleging that school officials ignored warning signs and that the abuse was openly joked about, with staff blaming and sexualizing the victim instead of taking action.
Impact on the Plaintiff’s Life
The 47-page complaint describes in detail the years of alleged abuse from 2004 to 2006, when the plaintiff graduated. The lawsuit also goes on to describe how the alleged abuse impacted the plaintiff’s life after she left school. The woman claims that she went from being an "exceptionally bright and curious child" who attended an elite private school known for producing Ivy League scholars, to a deeply depressed and traumatized woman who gave up on her dreams and struggled with relationships because of her history of abuse.
Investigation and Response by the School
The woman presented her allegations to the school in July 2024. The school subsequently hired an outside law firm to conduct an investigation and fired Henry. However, the victim claims in the court filing that instead of being open and transparent when notifying the Fieldston community about the alleged sexual abuse, the school "intentionally obscured the topic." The plaintiff also claims its email notification was "misleading."
Conclusion
The allegations of sexual abuse and the school’s response to the allegations have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of students at Ethical Culture Fieldston School. The school has denied the allegations and claims to have acted appropriately to address the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the nature of the allegations?
The allegations involve sexual abuse and rape by a volleyball coach, Collin Henry, during the plaintiff’s junior and senior years at the school. - What is the scope of the abuse?
The abuse allegedly occurred from 2004 to 2006, during the plaintiff’s junior and senior years at the school. - What is the school’s response to the allegations?
The school claims to have acted appropriately to address the issue, but the plaintiff claims that the school was not transparent in its handling of the situation. - What is the purpose of the lawsuit?
The purpose of the lawsuit is to hold the school and its employees accountable for the alleged abuse and to seek compensatory and punitive damages for the harm caused to the plaintiff.
