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Bishop England and the Diocese of Charleston played a part in potentially victimizing thousands when they had windows installed in coaches’ offices directed at locker rooms in 1998, current and former students are claiming in a class action lawsuit.
If you or someone you love was sexually abused or assaulted in a school or academic setting, you may be able to participate in a school sexual abuse lawsuit investigation.
Reportedly the largest Catholic High School in South Carolina, the Charleston-area Bishop England was equipped with 4-foot by 4-foot windows in each of the offices when it was built in 1998. In 2019, a former high school sports information director, Jeffery Alan Scofield, was convicted of committing voyeurism through these windows. He reportedly video recorded students changing in the locker room through these windows in secret.
Now, students say that they and others who attended Bishop England over the past two decades may have also been victims.
“For at least two decades (since 1998), BEHS students were made and required to disrobe partially or fully, exposing themselves in locker rooms controlled by Defendants BEHS and the Diocese,” alleges a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of students and their parents.
“Each of the locker rooms (boys and girls) were subject to viewing through a large glass window,” notes the lawsuit. “At some times, the referenced students were completely clothed. At times, the students were partially or completely nude.”
The class action lawsuit is seeking $300 million in damages from the school and Roman Catholic Church. The plaintiffs allege that damages are due to both students forced to change in the locker rooms and their parents and guardians, who paid tens of thousands in tuition.
Representatives for Bishop England and the Diocese of Charleston contend that the windows were originally installed so school staff could monitor the locker rooms for fights, bullying, or smoking.
Reportedly, after it was discovered that the sports director was filming illicitly in 2019, the windows in the locker rooms were boarded up and eventually replaced with a brick wall.
“If this type of fix can be implemented in just a day or two, it is absolutely mind boggling and completely intolerable that defendants let this activity go unchecked for 20 years,” points out the lawsuit lodged against Bishop England and the Diocese of Charleston. “It proves defendants’ ability to easily control the subject premises and the safety of the children they were entrusted with. Furthermore, it proves there was no compelling need for the viewing windows in the first place […] and capable of easy and inexpensive modification in short order.”
Did you attend Bishop England or another school with windows in the locker rooms? We want to hear from you. Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
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5 thoughts onBishop England, Diocese of Charleston Named in $300M Voyeurism Class Action
The geometry teacher he was most definitely one I believe may have taken advantage of the “peep windows” for the ladies locker room. He made me feel very uncomfortable when it was time for his class. I know exactly who you are referring to Schwartz if I recall my sophomore year 2000-2001.
I was a student, class of 2004. As a child I was gaslit whenever I showed concern for the windows. They said it was merely a planning mistake. Myself and several former classmates also had a teacher that made us very uncomfortable and knowing that that teacher could’ve had access to the windows makes me very very uncomfortable.
The geometry teacher he was most definitely one I believe may have taken advantage of the “peep windows” for the ladies locker room. He made me feel very uncomfortable when it was time for his class. I know exactly who you are referring to Shartz
I was exposed to this as a minor for four years. Class of 2003 BEHS.
Always thought something was weird about that dark window in the locker rooms and so did fellow classmates. This makes me so sick and hope we all get justice and reimbursed all the money for tuition that was supposedly to keep us “safe” from predators. Also hope we are paid for mental damage. Makes you feel disgusted knowing you were exploited.
Three of my son’s attended Bishop England and were exposed to this.