Monson-Sultana faces lawsuits over sexual abuse

Lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by a former teacher were filed Thursday morning against Monson-Sultana Joint Union Elementary School District at B.F. Sisk Courthouse in downtown Fresno. The lawsuits stem from the district’s employment of David Blancas, who pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in January 2013.

The suits were filed on behalf of five plaintiffs, identified only by their initials, seeking damages from the district for negligent hiring and supervision, negligent training and negligent infliction of emotional distress caused by the district’s employment of Blancas.

Monson-Sultana Joint Union Elementary School District would not comment on ongoing litigation.

At a news conference in front of the courthouse, Brian Kabateck, lead attorney for the plaintiffs and managing partner of Kabateck Brown Kellner LLP, spoke about why the suits were filed.

“This started in 1991 when David Blancas, then a Little League coach, was molesting victim No. 1,” said Kabateck. “Victim No. 1, in 1995, reported this incident to the police department.”

Kabateck went on to say that the school district knew about the 1995 police report and asked for a copy of it. Their initial request was rejected for procedural reasons and they were invited to make another request, but the school district failed to follow through, according to Kabateck.

“The school district knew or should have known as early as 1995 that they had a serial molester who was in their employ,” said Kabateck. “They didn’t fire him in 1995, they promoted him.

“Blancas became a full-fledged teacher in 1995. He became a coach. And he continued at the school for 17 more years before he was finally arrested. During that period of time he molested countless young boys who were students at the school.”

No charges were pressed against Blancas in 1995.

Blancas was also named in the lawsuits. Plaintiffs are seeking damages against him for assault, battery, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The lawsuits allege that Blancas touched the plaintiffs in an inappropriate manner and made them change their clothes in front of him. During overnight trips to basketball tournaments, the suits allege that Blancas would sleep in the same room as the plaintiffs, sometimes in the same bed. After Blancas’ arrest, many of the plaintiffs said that they were shown pictures of their genitals taken by him while they slept.

The lawsuits allege that lack of attention, training and follow-up from the district allowed Blancas to continue to prey on the plaintiffs.

Plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages but are not asking for a specific amount. Kabateck said they are leaving that decision up to the jury, but “nothing is going to return the childhood and the youth of these young men and the other victims.”

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Monson-Sultana faces lawsuits over sexual abuse."