Suit demands damages for alleged abuse

Chicago Hope Academy in the cross-hairs

08/26/2009 10:00 PM

By MICAH MAIDENBERG
Editor

1 Comment - Add Your Comment


Chicago Hope Academy
File 2007/Staff

Chicago Hope Academy administrators failed to intervene after a teacher initiated a sexual relationship with one of her students, a new lawsuit alleges.

Filed last week by a minor listed only as John Doe, the suit seeks $200,000 in damages against the private, Christian high school, 2189 W. Bowler.

By turning a “blind eye” to the relationship, the lawsuit alleges, Chicago Hope caused the former student emotional distress and psychological injury.

Kathryn Vail-Wesley, the teacher at the center of the controversy, also faces five counts of criminal sexual assault, a spokesman from the state’s attorney’s office confirmed. She has pleaded not guilty.

The civil suit claims that in the spring of 2008, Vail-Wesley, then 22, engaged in “pre-sexual grooming” of the minor, then 16. This included private phone calls, letters and messages.

Eventually, Vail-Wesley propositioned the minor, explaining that she wanted to “mix [his] chocolate skin with [her] vanilla skin,” the lawsuit says.

In August 2008, the suit says, Vail-Wesley and the student began to have regular sexual relations in classrooms, passageways, the teachers’ lounge and in Chicago Hope’s chapel.

The alleged contact came while Vail-Wesley was acting as the student’s “instructor, mentor and authority figure.”

“Vail-Wesley would also explain that her sexual behavior was a ‘reward’ for his good athletic performances for the Academy football team,” the suit claims.

The lawsuit claims that on several occasions the two were caught right before or after sex by Chicago Hope Academy staff or students. On one occasion, the minor involved talked about the relationship with at least one faculty member.

But no one protested, according to the suit. The situation changed, however, in October 2008.

That’s when, the lawsuit claims, Vail-Wesley’s husband, also a teacher at Chicago Hope, saw his wife engaged in sexual contact with the minor in a classroom. The minor was removed from the room and then allegedly physically assaulted by Vail-Wesley’s husband.

After the incident, the lawsuit alleges, Hope Academy staff turned on the minor.

The student was “subject to verbal abuse, scorn and ridicule by administrators, faculty, and/or coaches, was cast as a predator, and left to feel responsible for the exploitative acts perpetrated upon him.”

President Bob Muzikowski also specifically threatened to physically harm the minor, the lawsuit claims.

“Academy leaders, including Muzikowski, further intimidated Plaintiff by their words and actions, and blamed Plaintiff for causing a scandal within the school and for interfering with Ms. Vail-Wesley’s career and marriage,” the suit reads.

Shortly thereafter, the student, given the choice of expulsion or leaving the school, withdrew, the suit says.

The lawyers for the plaintiff have requested a jury trial, according to court documents.

Muzikowski did not return a call. No phone listing for Vail-Wesley could be located.

Contact: [email protected]


1 Comment - Add Your Comment



By dan in dearborn park from Dearborn Park
Posted: 08/27/2009 3:42 PM

Pathetic-if these allegations are true that this relationship occured and other staff knew about it-it reinforces my belief that schools espousing "Christian" vlaues are hypocrical. shame on them-let parents teach them their moral teachings