Jane Doe : Chicago Schools Settle Abuse Lawsuit, Lawmakers Demand Change

CHICAGO (CBS) – The Chicago Public Schools have reached a settlement in a civil case from 2019 involving a former student known as Jane Doe and former Gurdon S. Hubbard High School teacher Walter Glascoff. The settlement amount of $800,000 was agreed upon to compensate Jane Doe for the trauma she endured.

Jane Doe recently shared her story with CBS 2 as her case was on the verge of going to trial. Recalling her high school experience from two decades ago, she revealed, “I still have nightmares almost every night.” She bravely spoke out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Glascoff, detailing how he manipulated her emotions and made her feel guilty if she did not comply with his demands.

The Traumatic Impact of Sexual Abuse

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During the deposition, Dr. Prudence Gourguechon, a licensed psychiatrist in Illinois and CPS-paid defense expert witness, made controversial statements regarding sexual abuse. She suggested that not all cases of sexual abuse are traumatic and that not all teachers hold positions of authority over students. When questioned about the traumatic nature of sexual assault, Dr. Gourguechon responded with, “It depends. It depends on the detail, and how they’re defining it; who’s claiming what and what actually happened.”

In 2018, Jane Doe confided in a therapist about the inappropriate relationship she had with her high school teacher, which led to an investigation by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The investigation ultimately determined that Glascoff had indeed abused Jane, as he admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with her while she was a student.

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Legislative Response

Upon hearing Jane Doe’s story and the troubling opinions expressed by the CPS expert witness, lawmakers in Springfield took a stand. Representatives Steven Reick, Amy Elik, and Curtis Tarver II voiced their concerns about the protection of children from abuse. In response, they introduced HB222, a bill aimed at clarifying the impact of sexual assault on K-12 students and preventing defendants from blaming survivors in civil lawsuits.

Rep. Tarver, whose daughter attends a CPS school, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The notion that it would not be automatically traumatic to be sexually abused by an adult is just asinine to me.” Rep. Elik echoed his sentiments, asserting that there should be no doubt about the traumatic nature of sexual assault.

Demands for Accountability

In addition to legislative action, Rep. Tarver called for the dismissal of CPS General Counsel Ruchi Verma, holding Mayor Brandon Johnson accountable for the actions of the school district. “He needs to do the right thing. He needs to fire her—period,” Tarver insisted. However, the Mayor’s office has yet to respond to these demands.

In response to inquiries, CPS issued statements reaffirming their commitment to student safety and well-being. They emphasized the importance of addressing sexual abuse within the school system and ensuring that victims receive appropriate compensation. CPS also defended their legal strategies during the litigation of Jane Doe’s case, stating that the expert witness’s statements were taken out of context.

The settlement reached in Jane Doe’s case serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of sexual abuse on survivors and the need for comprehensive measures to protect students from harm. As the legislative process unfolds and calls for accountability grow louder, the focus remains on creating a safer environment for all students in Chicago Public Schools.