Ashland, Ore. – The parents of a young child who they claim was subjected to abuse at an Ashland preschool have filed a $27 million civil lawsuit against the institution, demanding accountability for alleged failures to enforce safety protocols.
The family’s lawsuit, filed Thursday morning in Jackson County Circuit Court, targets Children’s World: A Bilingual Montessori Preschool & Kindergarten, and accuses the school of institutional negligence and failing to protect vulnerable children from abuse. According to the lawsuit, the abuse was carried out by teacher Craig Johnson, who is currently under criminal investigation.
Bonnie Richardson, the family’s attorney, emphasized that the preschool had not responded to multiple questions submitted by the family last October. “They’ve never given us answers,” Richardson said. “If there was a policy about bathroom access, why wasn’t it followed? If there wasn’t, why not?” The attorney highlighted these concerns as pivotal in the case, underscoring the potential lapse in safety protocols that may have allowed the alleged abuse to continue.
The lawsuit details the family’s ongoing frustration with the lack of transparency from the school. The parents are determined to uncover the truth about how the school failed to protect their child and others under its care. “This is about getting answers,” said the family’s spokesperson. “It’s also about ensuring that something like this doesn’t happen to other children.”
While the criminal investigation into Johnson remains active, the family views the civil suit as their only avenue for obtaining direct answers from the school. The lawsuit also seeks justice for the emotional and psychological harm the child allegedly endured during her time at the preschool.
The family’s legal team hopes the case will prompt a broader conversation about safety standards in early childhood education, particularly in regard to how institutions handle sensitive issues like access to restrooms and adult supervision. By taking legal action, the family aims to hold the preschool accountable, ensuring that such incidents are not repeated in the future.
In addition to the monetary damages, the lawsuit demands that Children’s World Preschool implement immediate changes to its safety policies and procedures to prevent any further risk to children. The case has brought attention to the critical need for more rigorous safety protocols in early education settings, as well as greater transparency and accountability from institutions entrusted with the care of young children.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the family remains hopeful that the lawsuit will bring about not only justice for their daughter but also broader reforms that will protect all children in the care of educational institutions.