EAST ST. LOUIS – A mother and her minor child are suing Meridian Community Unit School District 101 over allegations the district let an adult on school premises who engaged in sexual contact with the minor.
A.D., individually and as mother and next friend of K.D., a minor, and K.D., a minor filed a complaint on March 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Meridian Community Unit School District 101, et al., alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to the complaint, K.D. was a student at Meridian High School during the 2015-2016 academic year. The suit states K.D. was "forced to endure sexual assault, sexual harassment and battery by a non-student adult, (Deon) Cherry, who was allowed on school premises and affirmatively given permission to take K.D. away from school and/or school-sponsored events such as athletic practice and/or athletic contest, in which K.D. participated."
The plaintiffs allege Cherry "engaged in criminal unconsented sexual contact with minor, K.D."
The suit also states K.D. was subjected to bullying, intimidation and harassment by other students.
The plaintiffs allege the defendants engaged in a course of action granting an adult and non-student access to minor students on school premises and failed to investigate incidents of bullying.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek damages of more than $75,000, plus interest and costs of this action.
They are represented by Daniel R. Seidman of Seidman, Margulis & Fairman LLP in Belleville.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:18-cv-00162