Fresno Unified sued by two students who were allegedly molested by school employees

Two Fresno Unified students who were allegedly molested by school employees in two separate incidents last year have filed lawsuits against the district, according to court documents obtained by The Bee.

One lawsuit, filed in Fresno County Superior Court on Jan. 10 by attorney Warren R. Paboojian, stems from the September arrest of Justine Karen Nelson, 30, a teacher at Tenaya Middle School. Nelson is charged with three felonies stemming from an alleged sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student.

Nelson is also named in the lawsuit, filed by Paboojian on behalf of the boy and his parents. According to the district, Nelson resigned from her position shortly after her arrest.

Nelson pleaded not guilty to all charges in Fresno County Superior Court. Her next criminal court date is scheduled for March 9.

Attorney M. Greg Mullanax filed the other lawsuit in Fresno County Superior Court on Jan. 20. It alleges negligence surrounding Theresa Ramirez, a 35-year-old teacher’s aide accused in September of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old special needs student at Hoover High School.

Ramirez, also named in the civil suit, pleaded not guilty to four felonies and one misdemeanor count stemming from her arrest. Her next criminal court date is scheduled for Feb. 7.

Ramirez had been fired from her position nearly a year before her arrest for failing to report to work, the district said.

Fresno Unified spokesman Miguel Arias said the district does not comment on pending litigation.

This story was originally published January 31, 2017 at 6:59 AM with the headline "Fresno Unified sued by two students who were allegedly molested by school employees."