Elk Grove Unified School District Sued Over Alleged Historic Grooming, Sexual Abuse

ELK GROVE, Calif. — A 31-year-old woman has filed a civil lawsuit against the Elk Grove Unified School District and a former employee, alleging she was subjected to hundreds of instances of sexual abuse, grooming, and rape while attending Laguna Creek High School nearly two decades ago.

The complaint, filed Aug. 14 in Sacramento Superior Court, identifies the plaintiff only as Jane Doe K.T. to protect her identity as a victim of childhood sexual violence.

According to the lawsuit, the abuse occurred between 2008 and 2010, when the plaintiff was between 14 and 16 years old. The complaint names former Laguna Creek High School teacher and on-campus suspension coordinator Michael Jones as the perpetrator. The filing details a pattern of grooming that escalated into repeated sexual assault and rape inside an on-campus resource store and office.

Despite the events occurring nearly 20 years ago, the action is permitted under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.11. The statute allows survivors of childhood sexual assault to bring civil claims against perpetrators and negligent employers up until their 40th birthday, while exempting these cases from standard government tort claim deadlines.

The lawsuit alleges district personnel ignored numerous red flags, including Jones repeatedly pulling the plaintiff out of classes without cause, ongoing rumors of a romantic relationship, and instances of Jones giving money to students.

The filing does not state whether Jones remains employed by the school district or has since left. Representatives for public entities like the Elk Grove Unified School District typically do not comment on active or pending litigation.

The plaintiff is represented by attorneys Babak Shirdel and Kateryna Mukhina of the law firm Slater Slater Schulman, LLP. The case is registered under case number 26CV019505.