Summary
Terry Parker was a former Mormon bishop and high school teacher in Tacoma, Washington.
In 1996, two of Parker’s former students filed a lawsuit in federal court against Parker and former principal Charlie Walker of Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington.
The lawsuit claimed Parker made sexual advances towards the girls between 1991 and 1994.
The lawsuit said that Walker and the district failed to protect the children or take any action against Parker when the abuse was reported.
Four other women filed tort claims against the school district and released legal statements stating they were considering suing because they were also victims of Parker.
Parker said, “All I can say would be, it’s pretty sad when the desire for money can influence these kids to basically fabricate stories to blow innocent things out of proportion.”
The suit was dismissed with prejudice in Feb. 1998, possibly after a settlement.
FLOODLIT is seeking copies of court documents related to this case.
Facts
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Dismissed with prejudice,
- Positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Nursery, Youth leader,
- During alleged crime: Unknown position,
- When accused: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 1990s, in Washington,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's workplace, Victim's school,
- Victims: 6 victims, Multiple victims,
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Born: 1953
- Mission: no
- Locations: Utah, Washington,
Sources
- Six Former Students Accuse Teacher Of Sexual Harassment,
- Pierce County Superior Court Civil Case 96-2-12504-6,
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1. Six Former Students Accuse Teacher Of Sexual Harassment
Six former Lincoln High School students have filed legal documents contending they were sexually harassed by a teacher while in school.
Two of the former students, Kelly Smith and Larissa Watson, now 20, filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court last month against the Tacoma School District, teacher Terry Parker and former Lincoln principal Charlie Walker.
The suit alleges Parker, a math teacher and former team trainer for girls sports, made unwanted sexual advances and comments toward them between 1991 and 1994, when they were minors. It alleges Walker and the school district knew about the complaints against Parker but failed to deal with them appropriately.
Another four women have filed tort claims with the district - legal statements that they might sue - saying they also were victims.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, but in the claims, each of the six women is seeking $100,000.
Reached at his home this week, Parker, who now works with the Seattle School District, denied the allegations. “All I can say would be, it’s pretty sad when the desire for money can influence these kids to basically fabricate stories to blow innocent things out of proportion,” he told The News Tribune.
The school district initially suspended Parker for five days without pay but reversed itself this summer after Parker appealed the discipline.
Mike Patterson, an attorney hired by the school district, said the district took appropriate action after the allegations came to light in 1994. He said the allegations of touching, staring and making remarks are comparatively minor.
“I have a hard time believing that these are substantial cases, in that the complaints they have are what I would consider not very egregious,” he said.
He added that the women have no reason to sue Walker, the former principal.
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2. Pierce County Superior Court Civil Case 96-2-12504-6
Filing Date Filing Access Pages Microfilm
11/12/1996 FILING FEE RECEIVED Public
11/12/1996 ORDER SETTING CASE SCHEDULE Public
11/12/1996 SUMMONS & COMPLAINT 4 SUMMONS Public
11/12/1996 REQUEST FOR ASSIGN TO CIVIL TRACK Public
11/26/1996 NOTICE OF APPEARANCE Public
12/02/1996 AFFIDAVIT/DECLARATION OF SERVICE Public 1544-3766
12/02/1996 ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICE Public 1544-3769
12/12/1996 NOTICE OF REMOVAL Public
02/25/1998 ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE Public 1699-4914
01/08/2004 ARCHIVED RECORD Public 86Proceedings
Date Calendar Outcome
Week Of 04/08/1997 JUDGE FLEMING Cancelled/Stricken
Unconfirmed Status Conference
Week Of 10/14/1997 JUDGE FLEMING Cancelled/Stricken
Unconfirmed Settlement Conference
Week Of 10/28/1997 JUDGE FLEMING Cancelled/Stricken
Unconfirmed Pretrial Conference
11/12/1997 JUDGE FLEMING Cancelled/Stricken
Confirmed 9:30 Trial
Documents
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Criminal case documents
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