Legal action is being taken against Florida Christian school The First Academy for allegedly ignoring complaints regarding instructor Harriet Sugg’s improper behavior with a pupil.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, accuses Sugg of grooming and inappropriately touching a student, leading to her initial arrest in October on charges of sexual activity with a 16- or 17-year-old.
Florida Lawsuit Grounds
The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe to protect her identity, entered The First Academy in 2014 at the age of 15, where Sugg was a teacher. According to Andrea Lewis, the attorney representing Jane Doe, the teacher initially appeared kind and approachable.
The lawsuit alleges that Sugg quickly formed a close relationship with the minor, writing a note within weeks that asked, “Will you be my little sister?” As the relationship allegedly grew more intimate, Sugg was accused of sexually assaulting Jane Doe when she turned 17 in 2016. The lawsuit details instances of abuse in various locations, including the school campus, Sugg’s classroom, her vehicle, and even at home when her husband was away.
The legal action contends that Sugg, who claimed to be a sexual assault survivor herself, took advantage of her employee/employer relationship with The First Academy.
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Allegations Against The First Academy
The statement “Harriet Sugg was assisted in accomplishing her sexual abuse of Jane Doe by the existence of her employee/employer relationship with The First Academy and the school’s willingness to stick its head in the sand” charges the school of ignoring blatant signs of child sexual abuse.
The lawsuit further reveals that staff members and students reported inappropriate incidents between Sugg and the victim to school officials, including hand-holding, intimate touching, and instances of the two playing with each other’s hair and rubbing each other’s backs.
Shockingly, Sugg’s own husband reportedly brought her conduct and the close relationship with Jane Doe to The First Academy’s administration.
This legal action underscores the gravity of the accusations and raises concerns about the school’s response to reports of misconduct, highlighting the need for institutions to address such matters promptly and effectively.
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