By Trend News Line 2024-06-18 09:15:06.
**Investigation into Sexual Abuse at The Thacher School**
Munger Tolles & Olson, a renowned law firm co-founded by the late Charlie Munger, recently conducted an investigation into The Thacher School in Ojai, California. The report, made public in 2021, confirmed past cases of sexual abuse at the exclusive boarding school. The investigation was initiated after a former student alleged abuse by former headmaster Willard Wyman and an unidentified school nurse during their time at Thacher from 1982 to 1984.
**Legal Battle for Disclosure**
Following the investigation, a California state judge ruled that Thacher must disclose records related to the allegations spanning over 25 years. However, Munger Tolles is fighting to protect the confidentiality of communications and witness interviews conducted during the investigation. The law firm argues that revealing such sensitive information could deter other organizations from seeking similar probes in the future.
**The Thacher School’s Prestige**
Situated on 540 acres in Ventura County, Thacher School commands a hefty annual fee of $74,530 for its students. With a 13% acceptance rate, the co-ed high school boasts a $206 million endowment and a unique feature of having 120 horses on campus. Despite its picturesque setting and affluent student body, the school now finds itself embroiled in a legal battle over its handling of past abuse allegations.
**Seeking Accountability**
The former Thacher student, identified as Jane Doe, filed a civil complaint in 2022 under a California law that temporarily lifts the statute of limitations for adult victims of child sex abuse. Represented by attorney Christina Cheung from a firm founded by prominent plaintiffs’ lawyer Gloria Allred, Jane Doe aims to hold Thacher accountable for its alleged mishandling of abuse cases.
**Uncovering Misconduct**
Munger Tolles’ investigation revealed damning details about the school’s former headmaster, Willard Wyman, who reportedly engaged in inappropriate behavior towards faculty and students. The report named several former faculty and administrators who were implicated in cases of sexual misconduct that occurred two decades ago. Wyman, who passed away in 2014, was accused of making offensive remarks, inappropriate touching, and creating a toxic environment at the school.
**Legal Battle Continues**
Despite the court’s order to disclose documents from the investigation, Munger Tolles and Thacher are challenging the decision all the way to the California Supreme Court. The law firm asserts attorney-client privilege and argues that forcing disclosure could have a chilling effect on future investigations. Jane Doe’s legal team, on the other hand, claims that the privilege claims are invalid as there was no formal attorney-client relationship between Munger Tolles and the school.
**Impact on Criminal Investigation**
In addition to the civil lawsuit, Thacher School has come under scrutiny from local law enforcement agencies. However, the sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices have announced that they will not be pursuing criminal charges due to the statute of limitations and obstacles posed by the Munger Tolles report. The public release of the investigation findings has made it challenging for authorities to gather evidence and interview potential suspects.
In conclusion, the legal battle surrounding The Thacher School’s handling of sexual abuse allegations underscores the challenges faced by prestigious institutions when confronted with past misconduct. As the fight for transparency continues, the impact of this case could have far-reaching implications for future investigations into similar cases of abuse within educational institutions..
munger tolles fights sex abuse data release for client privacy
munger tolles fights sex abuse data release for client privacy.