Swannanoa, North Carolina, Christian school says bullying lawsuit claims are without merit

Officials at Asheville Christian Academy, a private K-12 school in Swannanoa, Buncombe County, North Carolina, say allegations that the school failed to protect a former 13-year-old male student from sexually and physically exploitative bullying by other students, and then tried to cover it up, are “without merit.”

The claims appear in an 8-page civil complaint filed Sept. 9 in Buncombe County Superior Court on behalf of the boy, who is identified in the filing by the pseudonym John Doe. The complaint accuses school administrators of willful and wanton negligence. John Doe seeks damages in an unspecified amount, to be determined by the court, in excess of $25,000.

According to the complaint, John Doe, who has an undisclosed medical condition, began attending the school in August 2023 at age 11. The complaint states that about two years after he enrolled, he was “repeatedly bullied and physically and sexually abused by other students.” It alleges that on multiple occasions, students subjected him to sexually abusive hazing while he was in the shower after gym class, and that he sometimes came home with torn clothing or missing shoes.

The filing also states that students created fake AI images and sexually explicit videos that were circulated at the school. It alleges that one student, described as the ringleader of the bullying, contacted a convicted sex offender who lives in the area and attempted to set up a relationship in John Doe’s name. The lawsuit further alleges that the ringleader gave the offender John Doe’s home address. The complaint says John Doe’s medical condition left him weak after gym class, when he was often targeted, and that other students at times took his emergency medication away from him (Proverbs 31:8-9).

The lawsuit alleges that although the school promotes a higher standard on its website, administrators took no steps to “report, intervene, investigate, discipline, pursue criminal charges,” or otherwise protect John Doe. It further alleges a “concerted effort to cover up” the conduct. When John Doe’s mother raised the matter with the school, the lawsuit states that the school attempted to minimize the situation, including by telling her it was “simply an instance of ‘boys will be boys.'”

In a statement to The Christian Post on Thursday, the school said it is aware of the civil complaint. “Based upon our investigation, we believe the claims are without merit, and we intend to defend ourselves vigorously through the legal process,” the statement said. It added: “Out of respect for the students and families involved, we will not comment further at this time.”

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