REDWOOD CITY — The Millbrae School District is facing a lawsuit alleging a former female teacher sexually molested and harassed seventh-grade girls between 2013 and 2014.
Jane Doe #1 (A.M.) and Jane Doe #2 (M.V.), filed a complaint Feb. 1 in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Mateo against Millbrae School District, doing business as Taylor Middle School, and Does 1 through 100, alleging sexual molestation, harassment and other claims.
The female plaintiffs claim that throughout their seventh-grade year at Taylor Middle School between 2013 and 2014, their math/Spanish teacher Ethel Molina sexually molested, harassed and abused them.
The plaintiffs claim Molina began "grooming" them and other female students by demanding they stay alone in the classroom with her and would give them tasks to do around the classroom. They allege Molina used that time to "get physically close" to them and touch, grope and caress them on "intimate parts of their bodies" as well as make comments about their bodies.
The plaintiffs further claim that despite reporting the alleged abuse to school administrators in the spring of 2014, Molina was allowed to remain employed for the remainder of the school year and that the school administration failed to contact law enforcement, a child welfare agency or immediately inform parents.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Robert Thompson and Kirsten Vierhaus of The Thompson Law Offices PC in Burlingame.
Superior Court of California for the County of San Mateo case number 21-CIV-00482