A damning pattern within the Los Angeles Unified School District has resurfaced in new reporting: district leadership reportedly allowed a suspended coach to return to campus despite red flags from investigators — and nine students were subsequently abused. The case against former wrestling coach Terry Gillard at John H. Francis Polytechnic High School has become one of the most troubling examples of institutional failure in California school history, raising urgent questions about who protects students when the system doesn’t.
For families watching this story unfold, the facts are difficult to absorb. An LAUSD investigator reportedly believed Gillard had been dishonest about a 2016 sexual misconduct incident — but was blocked from sharing that assessment with the administrators who decided whether to let him return. He was allowed back on campus. The abuse continued.
This is not a story about one bad actor. It is a story about a system that consistently chose institutional protection over child safety — and the legal and human consequences of that choice.
A District With a Long History of Looking Away
LAUSD is the second-largest school district in the country, serving over 400,000 students. It is also a district with a documented history of mishandling abuse allegations against its employees. The Gillard case is not an outlier — it is part of a recognizable pattern.
Attorneys who represented victims in the Gillard litigation described LAUSD’s Student Safety Investigation Team (SSIT) — a unit staffed with former law enforcement professionals — as fundamentally compromised. According to the lawsuits, administrators forbade investigators from reaching conclusions about an accused employee’s credibility or from sharing their assessments with decision-makers. The result, the attorneys argued, was that the SSIT existed largely as a public relations apparatus rather than a genuine safeguard.
“LAUSD has a long and sad history of covering up child abuse by teachers and coaches,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys stated. The $52 million settlement that followed — one of the largest in the district’s history — underscored the severity of the harm.
What Happened: The Gillard Case
Terry Gillard was a wrestling coach at John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley and also worked with young athletes through the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley. His crimes spanned decades — from 1991 through 2017 — and involved both boys and girls, some of whom were preteens when the abuse began.
In 2016, a misconduct allegation triggered an LAUSD investigation. According to court records, the district’s own investigator did not find Gillard credible. But that assessment was never passed along to the administrators determining whether Gillard could come back to school grounds. He was cleared to return. Nine more children were abused.
In May 2019, a jury found Gillard guilty of 47 felony and misdemeanor counts involving seven boys and two girls. In October 2019, he was sentenced to 71 years in prison. By 2022, LAUSD had settled civil lawsuits brought by 14 victims for $52 million — though no dollar amount can undo the harm inflicted on children who deserved protection.
The Federal Government Takes Notice
The Gillard case is one chapter in a larger accountability reckoning now surrounding LAUSD. In 2026, the U.S. Department of Education announced a civil rights investigation into the district’s handling of teachers accused of sexual misconduct. The Department accused LAUSD of appearing to “protect sexual predators at the expense of its students.”
At issue is a 2024 settlement between LAUSD and United Teachers Los Angeles that critics say essentially guaranteed reassignment — rather than removal — for teachers facing credible sexual misconduct allegations. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is now examining whether this policy violates Title IX.
LAUSD has disputed the characterization, stating that “reassignment” typically means employees are sent home and kept away from students during investigations. But for the families of Gillard’s victims, that explanation rings hollow. The district had information. It didn’t act.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho — who led the district until February 2026, when he was placed on administrative leave following an unrelated federal investigation — has been succeeded by Acting Superintendent Andres Chait. The district now faces compounding scrutiny at every level of leadership.
What This Means for Abuse Survivors in California
Cases like this serve a painful reminder: institutions do not always protect the people they are supposed to serve. Schools, coaches, and administrators can — and sometimes do — fail. When they do, survivors have legal options.
Sexual abuse in California is taken seriously under state law, and California has taken significant steps in recent years to expand survivors’ ability to seek civil justice. The California Child Victims Act, for example, opened a window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil claims regardless of when the abuse occurred — including abuse that happened decades ago. That window has since closed, but the law demonstrates a broader legislative intent to hold institutions accountable.
California’s Government Claims Act governs civil claims against public entities like school districts, with specific rules about deadlines and procedures. This is precisely why speaking with an attorney early is so important — the legal timelines for suing a government institution are strict, and missing a deadline can permanently eliminate a survivor’s right to pursue a claim.
Warning Signs That a School or Institution May Be Mishandling Abuse
Not every failure is as dramatic as LAUSD’s documented breakdown. Many institutional failures happen quietly — in paperwork never filed, investigations quietly shelved, employees quietly transferred. Survivors and their families should pay attention when:
- A school employee is suspended or placed on leave, then quietly returned without explanation
- Complaints about a staff member are dismissed without visible investigation
- A coach, teacher, or aide is transferred to a new school following an allegation
- Children report discomfort around a specific adult, but concerns aren’t taken seriously
- A district settles claims privately without disclosing the nature of the allegations
These are not merely administrative concerns. They can be evidence of a pattern of negligence — or worse, deliberate concealment — that may support a civil claim.
What Survivors and Families Can Do
If you or someone you care about has been harmed by a school employee, there are concrete steps worth taking now:
- Document everything. Save any communications with the school, written complaints, or records of prior incidents involving the accused person.
- Report to law enforcement. Sexual abuse of a minor is a crime. A police report creates an official record and may trigger a broader investigation.
- File a complaint with the California Department of Education. The state has oversight authority over local districts and can investigate systemic failures.
- Contact the California Attorney General’s Office. California AG Rob Bonta has spoken publicly about the scale of school employee sexual abuse across the state, noting that California districts paid an estimated $2 to $3 billion to victims between 2019 and 2023.
- Consult a civil attorney. A lawyer experienced in institutional sexual abuse cases can evaluate whether the district or other entities bear civil liability, and help ensure critical deadlines aren’t missed.
The Legal Landscape: Holding Schools Accountable
Under California law, public entities like school districts can be held liable when their negligence enables abuse. This includes situations where administrators knew — or should have known — about an employee’s dangerous behavior and failed to act. The Gillard case is a textbook example: investigators had doubts about his credibility, those doubts were suppressed, and children paid the price.
Civil claims against school districts in California are governed by the Government Claims Act (formerly the Tort Claims Act), which requires survivors to file a government tort claim within six months of the incident before filing a civil lawsuit. This deadline is different from — and often shorter than — criminal statutes of limitations. Exceptions exist for minors and in cases involving delayed discovery of harm, but these are complex legal questions that require individualized analysis.
Damages in civil sexual abuse cases may include compensation for medical and psychological treatment costs, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In cases involving egregious institutional misconduct, punitive damages may also be available.
Connecting Survivors With the Right Attorneys
At GavelGrid, we believe every survivor deserves access to skilled, compassionate legal representation — and the information they need to make informed decisions. Cases involving school sexual abuse are among the most serious civil matters in our legal system. They require attorneys who understand the complex intersection of institutional liability, government claims procedures, and the long-term trauma that abuse survivors carry.
If you’re looking for a qualified attorney to handle a case involving sexual abuse in California, GavelGrid can help connect you with legal professionals who handle these cases with the experience and sensitivity they demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a school district be sued for a teacher or coach’s sexual abuse?
Yes. California law allows civil claims against school districts when administrators knew or should have known about an employee’s abusive behavior and failed to take appropriate action. LAUSD’s $52 million settlement in the Gillard case illustrates that districts can bear substantial civil liability when they suppress warning signs and allow dangerous employees to remain on campus.
What is the deadline to file a civil claim against a California school district?
Generally, you must file a government tort claim within six months of the incident. For minor victims, different rules may apply, and courts sometimes recognize exceptions for delayed discovery of harm. Because these deadlines are strict, consulting an attorney as soon as possible is strongly advised.
What if the abuse happened years ago? Can I still file a claim?
Possibly. California has enacted laws specifically to address older abuse claims, including extensions for childhood sexual abuse survivors. Whether a time-barred claim can proceed depends on when the abuse occurred and specific legal provisions. An attorney familiar with California sexual abuse law can evaluate your circumstances.
What damages can a sexual abuse survivor recover in California?
California law allows recovery for medical and psychological treatment, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and — in cases of institutional misconduct — potentially punitive damages. Every case is different, and outcomes depend on the specific facts.
How does GavelGrid help people find an attorney?
GavelGrid is a legal resource platform designed to connect individuals with qualified attorneys across a wide range of practice areas. We don’t provide legal advice, but we help people understand their rights and find the right legal help for their situation.
What should I do if I suspect my child’s school is covering up abuse?
Document everything, report to law enforcement, and contact an attorney. You can also file a complaint with the California Department of Education or contact the state Attorney General’s office. Do not wait — both criminal and civil deadlines may apply.