Were You or Your Child Sexually Abused by Nicholas E. Erickson at Parkside Intermediate School?

TLO Law, P.C. represents a minor student, identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was sexually abused by Nicholas Erickson, a physical education teacher at Parkside Intermediate School, a school operated by the San Bruno Park Elementary School District. The lawsuit was filed in San Mateo County Superior Court and alleges that the District failed to protect students despite repeated warning signs, prior complaints, and knowledge of Erickson’s conduct.

According to the Complaint, Erickson engaged in inappropriate sexual touching of students, including Jane Doe, while acting in his role as a PE teacher at Parkside. The Complaint alleges that he routinely made inappropriate comments toward female students, exhibited aggressive and hostile behavior toward girls, used racial slurs, and created an environment in which students felt unsafe. It is further alleged that Erickson attempted to enter girls’ locker rooms on campus and followed students on social media platforms, conduct that raises serious concerns among students and parents.

The lawsuit alleges that in April 2023, Erickson inappropriately touched Jane Doe during a PE class, using his hands to touch intimate parts of her body under the guise of improving her batting stance. It is further alleged school administrators were aware of repeated complaints involving Erickson’s behavior toward female students. The Complaint alleges that the vice principal of Parkside informed Jane Doe’s parents that the school had assigned a female teacher to monitor Erickson due to the number of complaints received from female students. Despite this knowledge, Jane Doe alleges that the District failed to take meaningful action to remove him from contact with students or to otherwise protect children from harm.

Jane Doe’s parents reported the alleged sexual misconduct to school officials, but the Complaint alleges that no effective action was taken. Jane Doe’s parents later appeared at a District board meeting and explicitly reported the incident and raised concerns about student safety. According to information later shared with the family, at least one other parent had previously made a complaint regarding Erickson’s conduct toward students, further supporting allegations that the District had prior notice of the risk he allegedly posed.

The lawsuit further alleges that the District’s actions and inaction amounted to ratification of Erickson’s conduct. Rather than removing him or reporting the allegations as required under California law, the Complaint alleges that District officials described Erickson’s conduct as a “mistake,” minimizing the seriousness of the complaints, allowing him to remain in a position of trust, and failing to implement safeguards to prevent further harm. The lawsuit alleges that this response effectively enabled the misconduct to continue and exposed additional students to risk.

It is further alleged that Erickson was later reassigned or otherwise separated from the District without appropriate reporting or warnings, and that he has since obtained other teaching positions. The lawsuit alleges that the District failed to take reasonable steps to prevent him from continuing to work with children, thereby placing other students at foreseeable risk of harm.

The lawsuit alleges that the San Bruno Park Elementary School District failed to properly supervise, discipline, or remove Erickson despite repeated red flags, and failed to comply with mandatory reporting obligations under California law. As a result, Jane Doe suffered severe emotional distress, trauma, and other harm associated with the abuse and the District’s alleged failure to intervene.

Families with information regarding inappropriate conduct, sexual abuse, or prior complaints involving staff at Parkside Intermediate School or other schools within the San Bruno Park Elementary School District are encouraged to contact TLO Law, P.C. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families may have legal rights and are encouraged to seek confidential legal guidance.

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We handle Parkside Middle School Nicholas E. Erickson Sexual Assault and Abuse cases in Alameda County, Los Angeles County, Marin County, Napa County, Orange County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, San Diego County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Sonoma County, Ventura County, and other counties across the State of California.