Elite La High School Covered Up Sexual And Racist Abuse From Star Water Polo Player Towards His Teammate, Lawsuit Says

A erstwhile h2o polo subordinate astatine an elite Los Angeles backstage schoolhouse is suing it, alleging that he was many times sexually assaulted by an older subordinate and thing was done to extremity it erstwhile he reported nan incidents.

The lawsuit was revenge connected behalf of Aidan Romain, who was 14 astatine nan clip of nan alleged incidents astatine nan Harvard-Westlake School, which costs much than $54,000 a year.

Romain, 18, was 1 of nan only Black players connected nan school's team. The suit claims that nan student who allegedly assaulted him besides called him group slurs, according to the Orange County Register.

According to nan lawsuit, Lucca van der Woude, an older subordinate who was reportedly connected way to go an Olympic prospect for nan American h2o polo team, digitally penetrated Romain arsenic early arsenic Romain's first believe pinch nan team.

“Time and clip again, connected Harvard-Westlake’s field – successful its excavation and elsewhere – Lucca Van Der Woude approached Plaintiff from down to ambush and digitally penetrate him,” Attorney Daniel Watkins wrote successful nan complaint.

The lawyer past accused nan schoolhouse of doing "nothing" aft nan assaults were reported.

“Plaintiff reported this maltreatment to Harvard-Westlake instantly aft learning that Lucca van Der Woude was assaulting different teammate. But Harvard-Westlake did nothing. It took nary of nan steps that nan schoolhouse – arsenic a mandated newsman of kid maltreatment – was legally required to take,” he wrote.

Romain claims successful nan suit that he was called nan n-word regular from nan clip he joined nan squad done February 2024. In 1 instance, Romain alleges that van der Woude and different student whipped Romain successful nan weight room and acted arsenic though they were whipping a slave.

“They taunted him pinch group slurs, calling him a [n-word] astir each time for astir 5 months. When Connor Kim and Lucca van Der Woude were questioned by nan school, some admitted it,” nan title says. “Harvard-Westlake still grounded to return basal steps to protect Plaintiff.”

The suit claims nan student's mother met pinch Harvard-Westlake Coach Jack Grover connected astatine slightest 2 occasions to sound her concerns astir nan team's allegedly abusive and bigoted behavior.

She reportedly said nan coach sent her a matter saying that "my eyes are going to beryllium connected [her son]."

Harvard-Westlake School president Richard Commons, Grover, and van der Woude are named arsenic defendants successful nan case.

The schoolhouse told The Independent that it “unequivocally disputes many” of nan claims successful nan lawsuit.

"Harvard-Westlake will not connection circumstantial remark different than to opportunity that it unequivocally disputes galore of nan allegations successful nan suit because they mischaracterize facts and nan school’s actions. The schoolhouse treated reports of inappropriate behaviour successful its h2o polo programme pinch urgency and seriousness, promptly initiating an investigation and complying pinch its mandatory reporting obligations. The schoolhouse besides cooperated wholly pinch rule enforcement," nan schoolhouse said successful its statement.

In 2024, van der Woude was arrested connected field connected suspicion of intersexual battle and was past banned from some nan school's grounds and from playing for nan school's h2o polo team, according to nan Orange County Register.

The title accuses nan schoolhouse of covering for van der Woude to protect him from criminal charges.

“As portion of its cover-up, nan schoolhouse worked hand-in-hand pinch Lucca van Der Woude and his family to transportation him to Newport Harbor High School nan very adjacent semester pinch a cleanable record, arsenic if thing had ever happened and he had committed nary crimes,” nan title alleged.

He was committed to joining UCLA's title h2o polo team, but nan assemblage withdrew its connection pursuing nan Orange County Register's study concerning nan allegations levied against him.

Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara, LLP, nan rule patient representing van der Woude, provided The Independent pinch nan pursuing statement:

“Lucca van der Woude categorically and unequivocally denies each and each allegation made against him. These claims are false. Lucca has conducted himself pinch integrity passim his world and diversion career, and he will not let mendacious accusations to specify him now and/or successful nan future.”

“We person afloat assurance that nan truth will look done nan due ineligible process, and we look guardant to presenting Lucca's complete defense. We will person nary further remark while this matter is pending.”