Time is Limited - Act Now
Time is Limited
Act Now
Teachers at Southern California’s Redlands Unified School District Accused of Sexual Abuse of Students
The San Bernardino Sun reveals three troubling cases of student sexual abuse within Redlands Unified:
- Laura Whitehurst: Former English teacher and soccer coach at Citrus Valley High School who became pregnant by one of her students and bore his child.
- Kevin Patrick Kirkland: Former Redlands High School math teacher and golf coach who reportedly “preyed upon vulnerable female students” and had sex with them – often at his home or in his car.
- Sean Ramiro Lopez: The former Clement Middle School teacher was accused of sexual abuse by seven survivors while being protected by Marilyn Kemple, principal at the school.
Redlands Unified spokesman, Tom DeLapp, points to recently approved reporting protocols that may prevent this kind of behavior from occurring in the future in an action considered by some to be too little too late.
Redlands Unified School District paid $41M+ to settle teacher-on-student sexual abuse.
Seven plaintiffs accuse former Clement Middle School teacher Sean Ramiro Lopez, of various sex crimes in four separate lawsuits filed following the 2020 enactment of California AB 218.
Lopez taught eighth-grade English at Clement from September 1999 until his arrest on February 21, 2002.
Because of the California Child Victims Act, there is a unique opportunity for survivors of sexual abuse to pursue justice, with no regard for a statute of limitations of any kind.
According to the San Bernardino Sun, California AB 218 allows any survivor of childhood sexual abuse the opportunity to file a civil lawsuit until their 40th birthday in pursuit of maximum financial compensation.
California AB 218’s “Treble Damages Clause” and New Allegations
Under California AB 218, the courts now have the latitude to use the treble damages clause to award triple awards to survivors of childhood sexual abuse impacted by evidence of a cover-up.The treble damages clause would not be applicable to the Redlands Unified cases settled against Whitehurst in 2016 and Kirkland in 2018.
However, Marilyn Kemple, principal at Clement Middle School when Lopez was employed as a teacher:
- Failed to ever take proper action against Lopez;
- Called a student who made allegations against Lopez a “liar”; and,
- Threatened to expel the student before the allegations came to light.
And in a new development, the San Bernardino County District Attorney filed five felony charges against teacher Joseph Nardella for one count of sexual abuse and four counts of sodomy of a minor.
The 52-year-old Nardella has been named twice alongside the Redlands Unified School District in civil suits this year by former students alleging sexual abuse.
Eligible victims are encouraged to request a free, private case evaluation by our experienced legal staff with the potential for compensation and justice.
Find Out if You Qualify
*Consent: By clicking the "SUBMIT" button, I consent to receive recurring auto dialed and/or text messages from Shield Justice Team Tort Intake Professionals LLC or our partners in order to discuss my legal options and at the telephone number I provided. I also consent to the Shield Justice Team Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. I understand that I may receive a call even if my telephone number is listed on a Do Not Call list and that my consent is not a requirement of purchase. I understand that my telephone company may impose charges on me for these contacts and that I can revoke this consent at any time. For SMS campaigns: Text STOP to cancel and HELP for help. Msg & data rates may apply. Recurring msgs up to 27 msgs per month.
Redlands Unified School District paid $41M+ to settle teacher-on-student sexual abuse.
Seven plaintiffs accuse former Clement Middle School teacher Sean Ramiro Lopez, of various sex crimes in four separate lawsuits filed following the 2020 enactment of California AB 218.
Lopez taught eighth-grade English at Clement from September 1999 until his arrest on February 21, 2002.
Because of the California Child Victims Act, there is a unique opportunity for survivors of sexual abuse to pursue justice, with no regard for a statute of limitations of any kind.
According to the San Bernardino Sun, California AB 218 allows any survivor of childhood sexual abuse the opportunity to file a civil lawsuit until their 40th birthday in pursuit of maximum financial compensation.
California AB 218’s “Treble Damages Clause” and New Allegations
Under California AB 218, the courts now have the latitude to use the treble damages clause to award triple awards to survivors of childhood sexual abuse impacted by evidence of a cover-up.The treble damages clause would not be applicable to the Redlands Unified cases settled against Whitehurst in 2016 and Kirkland in 2018.
However, Marilyn Kemple, principal at Clement Middle School when Lopez was employed as a teacher:
- Failed to ever take proper action against Lopez;
- Called a student who made allegations against Lopez a “liar”; and,
- Threatened to expel the student before the allegations came to light.
And in a new development, the San Bernardino County District Attorney filed five felony charges against teacher Joseph Nardella for one count of sexual abuse and four counts of sodomy of a minor.
The 52-year-old Nardella has been named twice alongside the Redlands Unified School District in civil suits this year by former students alleging sexual abuse.
Eligible victims are encouraged to request a free, private case evaluation by our experienced legal staff with the potential for compensation and justice.
100% Free & Secure Case Evaluations
Don’t suffer the injury of childhood sexual abuse in silence any longer—we fight for justice!
Victims of childhood sexual abuse—and the families that suffered with them—should have every opportunity to address the teachers in court and get the compensation and justice they deserve.