Trial moved in sexual misconduct case against O'Fallon #203

A trial in a case against O'Fallon School District 203 brought by the mother of a student who allegedly had a sexual relationship with her music teacher has been moved.

According to the case docket sheet, plaintiff's attorney Thomas Falb notified the court that the suit brought by Jane Doe on behalf of her daughter, Mary Doe, would not be ready for a jury Aug. 16.

Jane Doe is suing the high school district and former music teacher Matthew Lang for at least $50,000 in damages and costs.

Meanwhile, the parties are to provide additional briefing on a move by O'Fallon to have its case severed from the claims against Lang and moved to St. Clair County.

The case is now set for a case management conference in November.

According to her complaint, Jane Doe's daughter, Mary Doe, allegedly began a sexual relationship with Lang when Lang was her teacher and she was a minor.

Jane Doe claims the school district failed to tell an Alton school district about Lang's previous inappropriate sexual relationship with a student who later became Lang's wife.

Lang worked for O'Fallon before going to Alton where he began his alleged relationship with Mary Doe.

The Alton school district had previously been named as a defendant in the case. It has since been dropped from the suit.

Lang pled guilty last year to criminal charges related to the relationship with Mary Doe.

Thomas Falb represents the Does.

James Craney and others represent O'Fallon.

No attorney is listed for Lang in the civil matter.

The case had previously been assigned to Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack.

Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis presides, although the July 16 order on the motion to sever and transfer was signed by Madison County Circuit Judge David Hylla who oversaw Callis' motion docket that day.

The Aug. 16 trial had been scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

The case is Madison case number 09-L-886.