BY NORAH SHEPPARD-HUTCHINS
Daily Post Staff Writer
Woman has sued the Redwood City School District, claiming school officials allowed a janitor to sexually assault her for several years.
The woman, identified as “Jane Doe” in the lawsuit, attended Clifford Elementary School in Redwood City for kindergarten and first grade and third grade through sixth grade in the mid ’90s to early 2000s. Throughout her time as a student, a school custodian at the time, Leonardo Hernandez, sexually assaulted her, according to a lawsuit filed in San Mateo County Superior Court on Oct. 12 by Attorney Alex Cunny.
Doe is currently 36 years old, according to the lawsuit. Hernandez died in April 2016.
Trapped in a bathroom
Hernandez allegedly trapped Doe in the school bathroom and fondled her with and without clothes on, force her to fondle him, kiss her and digitally penetrate the plaintiff continuously throughout her time at the school. Hernandez forced her to engage in sexual intercourse at least once, according to the lawsuit.
“Based upon the information and belief, Hernandez was permitted to be alone in the girls’ bathroom without any supervision, transparency or oversight, which allowed him to repeatedly abuse and molest the plaintiff over several school years,” the suit said.
Lack of monitoring claimed
Doe is suing the district for failing to monitor and control areas on campus, including school bathrooms. Employees either saw and failed to report the sexual misconduct or should have paid more attention to the signs, according to the lawsuit.
The Post reached out to a Redwood City School District spokesman and did not get a response.
The district operates 12 schools, serving about 7,500 students from preschool through eighth grade throughout Redwood City.
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