Family of student allegedly sexually assaulted by teacher plans to sue

NEW HAVEN » The family of a Wilbur Cross High School student who allegedly was sexually assaulted by a drama teacher at the school has filed a notice of intent to sue the city and the school board over the incident.

New Haven attorney Marisa A. Bellair filed the notice of claim June 12 on behalf of the victim’s family against the city of New Haven and the New Haven Board of Education. The claim relates to the victim’s alleged assault by teacher Jennifer Frechette, who was arrested by police in April on second-degree sexual assault charges.

Bellair alleges in the claim the city and school board were negligent in allowing the minor student to “become involved in an inappropriate sexual relationship and, ultimately, sexually assaulted by Jennifer Frechette.” The claim does not provide information on potential compensation sought.

“The Plaintiff further alleges that said negligence was a direct and proximate cause of the damages that he has suffered and will continue to suffer in the future,” Bellair wrote in the claim. Bellair did not immediately respond to a call Tuesday requesting comment.

City spokesman Laurence Grotheer and school board Chief Operating Officer William Clark on Tuesday both declined to comment on the claim, citing their policy to withhold comment on pending litigation. Clark said Frechette has resigned from the district; a personnel report from the school board’s May 22 meeting shows her resignation will be effective June 30. Frechette previously had been placed on paid administrative leave per district protocol while awaiting a termination hearing.

A source in the district said Frechette resigned before the termination proceedings entered the evidence phase.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Frechette turned herself in April 13 following a months-long investigation sparked by an incident in January. Two security guards told police they witnessed Frechette in a makeshift bed made out of pillows with a student on Jan. 5. The teenager initially told police that nothing happened between the two. The teen later told police Frechette had performed oral sex on him in December. The claim filed this month does not specify a single alleged incident and instead claims the sexual assaults happened between September through January.

The teen told police the two began talking over text messages, leading to conversations about sexual acts. Frechette told police she had communicated with the student via text messages.

Frechette was last scheduled to appear in court Monday. In addition to the sexual assault charges, she faces two counts of risk of injury to a child and a fourth-degree sexual assault charge.