Opinion ID: 1801833
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Count One: Negligence

Text: The negligence count of the complaint alleges that all defendants knew or had reason to know that Gadams had previously engaged in various types of sexual wrongdoing with minors and students, but that defendants negligently, carelessly, and/or with knowledge intentionally, maliciously, and/or fraudulently hired, retained, failed to report, failed to discipline, failed to supervise and/or affirmatively recommended defendant ROBERT GADAMS to other positions of trust and positions whereby he would act as an authority figure to minors and students. The complaint makes specific negligence allegations as to each defendant. It alleges that Gadams worked in the Mendota Unified School District (Mendota) from 1985 to 1988. In May 1990, Gilbert Rossette, a Mendota official, provided to the placement office at Fresno Pacific College (where Gadams received his teaching credentials) a detailed recommendation regarding Gadams, knowing that it would be passed on to prospective employers, although Rossette allegedly knew of Gadams's prior improper contacts with female students. These contacts included hugging some female junior high school students, giving them back massages, making sexual remarks to them, and being involved in sexual situations with them. Rossette's recommendation noted numerous positive aspects of Gadams's tenure in Mendota, including his genuine concern for students and his outstanding rapport with everyone, and concluded, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Mr. Gadams for any position! The complaint makes similar allegations regarding Richard Cole, an official of Tranquility High School District and Golden Plains Unified School District (Golden Plains), where Gadams was employed between 1986 or 1987 and 1990. The complaint alleges that in 1990, Cole provided Fresno Pacific College's placement office with a detailed recommendation of Gadams, although he knew of Gadams's prior inappropriate conduct while an employee of Golden Plains. Specifically, Cole knew that Gadams had been the subject of various parents' complaints, including charges that he led a panty raid, made sexual overtures to students, sexual remarks to students.... These complaints had allegedly led to Gadams's resigning under pressure from Golden Plains due to sexual misconduct charges.... Cole's recommendation listed Gadams's various favorable qualities as an instructor and administrator, and stated Cole would recommend him for almost any administrative position he wishes to pursue. Gary Rice and David J. Malcolm, officials in the Muroc Joint Unified School District (Muroc), where Gadams was employed in or around 1990 or 1991, also allegedly provided a detailed recommendation to Fresno Pacific College's placement office in 1991, despite their knowledge of disciplinary actions taken against Gadams regarding sexual harassment allegations made during his employment with Muroc. The allegations included charges of sexual touching of female students and induced Muroc to force Gadams to resign. The recommendation, signed by Malcolm, described Gadams as an upbeat, enthusiastic administrator who relates well to the students and who was in a large part responsible for making the campus of Boron Junior/Senior High School a safe, orderly and clean environment for students and staff. Malcolm concluded by recommending Gadams for an assistant principalship or equivalent position without reservation. Defendants made these recommendations on forms that Fresno Pacific College supplied, which clearly stated that the information provided will be sent to prospective employers. Plaintiff contends that these recommendations, with their associated failures to disclose and to warn, were made with actual malice, corruption and actual fraud since these defendants knew the true facts regarding Gadams and knew that an injury to a child by Gadams would probably result. Plaintiff alleges that her injuries were a proximate result of defendants' actions.