Oconto Falls, Wis – Attorneys representing survivors of a decades-long pattern of sexual abuse within the Oconto Falls School District issued a formal response following the District’s filing of a Motion to Dismiss. Disparti Law sees this motion as a continuation of the District’s historical pattern of overlooking, minimizing, and dismissing the trauma of its students.

The lawsuit alleges that for more than 20 years, the District failed to protect students from a predatory environment. Despite the gravity of the claims, the District’s recent filing argues that the systematic abuse of these children does not rise to the level of constitutional violations.

“We are deeply troubled by the District’s public position that these horrific experiences were not a violation of our clients’ fundamental rights to their own bodies,” said Cass Casper, lead counsel for the plaintiffs. “This motion is a tactic that ignores the reality of the trauma endured by these students. It is consistent with the decades-long history of the District looking the other way while children were being harmed.”

The District’s motion seeks to invalidate the lived experiences of numerous survivors, including:
● Amanda Watzka: 17 years old when she was cornered and sexually assaulted by a teacher in a hotel stairway during a school-sponsored trip.
● Brooke La Count: 15 years old when she was assaulted by her volleyball coach during their first meeting, followed by multiple instances of abuse.
● Grace Williams: 17 years old when she was assaulted by the same coach—an individual the District failed to remove even after La Count’s report.
● Brianna Kain: A minor subjected to unwanted sexual contact by the school’s athletic trainer under the guise of medical treatment.
● Kayla Kasper: Groomed and targeted in her own classroom by a teacher who used isolation and sexualized comments to exert control.
● Jesse Kasal: Removed from class on false pretexts and taken to locked rooms by a drama teacher, where he suffered escalating sexual contact on 25 to 40 occasions.
● D.P.: Discouraged from reporting due to the District’s documented history of public shaming against those who come forward.

We had anticipated the District’s response but are appalled by their stance and will have a comprehensive response on file with the Court this week. The survivors and their counsel remain steadfast in their pursuit of accountability.

“Our clients deserve better, and students deserve better,” Larry Disparti, Founder of Disparti Law stated. “The District’s argument that a child’s right to bodily autonomy is not a constitutional matter is not only legally flawed but morally bankrupt. We look forward to the Court’s ruling and to finally securing justice for these survivors.”