Opinion ID: 712940
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Lori Briana Little

Text: 16 During the 1991-92 school year, Briana Little was a freshman in Leventhal's physical science class. The Littles allege that Leventhal abused, humiliated, and intimidated Briana in a number of ways, including staring at her, making kissing noises, and generally insulting her. Leventhal also telephoned Briana at home on two occasions, questioning her about her relationships with other students and instructing her to stay away from Andrea Lillard. 17 In the spring, Briana's parents requested that Principal Chism move her out of Leventhal's class because of this treatment. Although he initially agreed, Principal Chism and his assistant, Tim Setterlund, later called Briana to their office, and were angry and hostile because of her parents' complaints, telling her she was going back in there to Leventhal's class. Later, Setterlund told the Littles that it would be in Briana's interest to stay in the class because of the short time left in the school year. Mrs. Little informed Setterlund that Leventhal picked on Briana because she was a girl and would not verbally defend herself. 18 On May 27, 1992, the last day of school, Leventhal sent Briana a note asking her to come to his classroom. Shortly thereafter, he passed her in the hallway and rubbed her stomach, telling her he had arranged for permission for her to come to his class ... after her last exam. It was after this incident that Briana's parents decided that Leventhal's actions were clearly sexual in nature and that he had a problem with power over young girls. They did not mention this incident to Principal Chism or Superintendent Anderson, however, allegedly because of the previous lack of response. 19 The School Board, through its President, filed an affidavit stating that it had never been informed of any complaints with respect to Briana. Likewise, Superintendent Anderson filed an affidavit stating that he never received any information regarding Briana. Principal Chism's affidavit states that, although he remembers meeting with Briana and her mother, he does not recall the detail of their complaints, however, [he] would have remembered had they made allegation [sic] of sexual harassment.