Parents Sue Kirkland’s Lake Washington School District Alleging Sexual Abuse of Seven-Year-Old Student

SEATTLE – The parents of a seven-year-old student at Helen Keller Elementary School have filed a lawsuit accusing Kirkland’s Lake Washington School District of failing in its duty to use reasonable care to protect students, resulting in the sexual abuse of their child, according to Hagens Berman attorneys representing the family.

The lawsuit was filed in the King County Superior Court on June 12, 2026, and states that despite Lake Washington School District’s knowledge of two students’ prior misconduct, their child – identified in the lawsuit as A.G. – was left unsupervised with these students and under the care of an unlicensed and unqualified substitute, a PTA member.

According to the lawsuit, “Lake Washington School District had actual knowledge that students in the classroom had an established history of bullying A.G. and other students. These same students had also engaged in unwanted sexual contact with other students' genitalia. Despite this knowledge, the District failed to take adequate measures to protect A.G. from the foreseeable harm posed by these students.” Prior misconduct had prompted a Title IX investigation, according to the lawsuit.

“Every day, parents place their children under the care of Lake Washington School District and trust it to uphold its duty to look after them in their absence,” said Jacob Berman, Hagens Berman attorney representing the plaintiffs. “We bring this lawsuit for multiple reasons: to seek justice for this affected family and to shine a light on this egregious negligence to help ensure it never happens again.”

What the District Allegedly Knew

Despite the school’s knowledge that the classroom included students with a history of sexual misbehavior against A.G., bullying and aggression and a documented Title IX investigation report, the school placed an unlicensed PTA member substitute teacher in a supervisory role in the classroom.

Prior instances of sexual victimization by one of the two students against A.G. led the school to consider implementing a separation plan, according to the lawsuit. Previously documented misconduct included biting, kicking and hitting. That plan, the lawsuit states, “failed to keep the girls separated during class and recess” and was ineffective.

Additionally, Hellen Keller Elementary failed to report all violations directly to A.G.’s parents, as required under the plan policies. Instead of school officials reporting incidents, A.G. was left to inform her parents when the two offending students tried to contact her, the lawsuit states.

“What good is a safety plan if the school fails to adhere to its very guidelines?” Berman said.

“Unsupervised and Unsafe”

The lawsuit states that while under the unlicensed PTA member substitute teacher’s supervision, A.G. and the two other children were allowed to play in a cubby area during choice time, a space not visible from the teacher’s desk.

“During choice time, Ms. Kowitz let the classroom become rowdy such that other staff members felt the need to check in on the classroom,” the lawsuit states, citing the principal’s notation of “wild behaviors” in the classroom.

According to the lawsuit, Lake Washington School District violated its duty of care under the law by:

• failing to ensure the supervision and control of the two offending students,
• failing to hire qualified staff to supervise students,
• failing to implement an effective safety plan despite knowing of the offending students’ prior misconduct and
• failing to protect A.G. from subsequent harassment and bullying after she was sexually victimized by the two offending students.

“We believe our client’s child was placed in unsupervised and unsafe conditions allowed by Lake Washington School District,” Berman said.

The lawsuit brings claims under Title IX, alleging “deliberate indifference” that led to the district failing to effectively stop, prevent or remedy the harassment. The lawsuit also brings claims of negligence and violations of state laws pertaining to discrimination.

Find out more about the child sexual abuse lawsuit against Lake Washington School District.

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About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation law firm with a tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by systemic negligence, fraud and abuse. Since its founding in 1993, the firm’s determination has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of “Most Feared Plaintiff’s Firm,” MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law.

The firm has also represented survivors of sexual abuse in monumental cases, trying the first sexual harassment case in Washington state. Hagens Berman also represented women violated by Harvey Weinstein, and USC alumnae abused by the university's former gynecologist, resulting in a $215 million settlement. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

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