A former Dalton School student who claims that former headmaster Gardner P. Dunnan sexually assaulted her in 1986 has filed a lawsuit against Dunnan and the school in Manhattan Supreme Court, according to court records. The lawsuit is being brought under the Child Victims Act. It was previously filed in the Southern District of New York and later withdrawn.
The allegations against Gardner Dunnan
The plaintiff is referred to as “J.S.”, and she has requested permission to remain anonymous.
According to the complaint, J.S. was offered admission to Dalton, free tuition, room, and board after meeting with Dunnan in the summer of 1986. She was also supposed to assist Dunnan’s wife with household tasks and babysitting.
J.S. moved into Dunnan’s apartment and began attending classes at Dalton in September 1986. She was 14 years old at the time. J.S. alleges that Dunnan sexually assaulted her on four separate occasions over the next several months.
“Dunnan repeatedly touched J.S. without her consent, fondling her breasts, sticking his tongue in her mouth, disrobing and groping her, laying on top of her, and thrusting his genitals against her.”
-From the Complaint
The alleged incidents are described in an earlier post.
Dunnan denied the allegations in 2018.
The allegations against the Dalton School
The lawsuit claims that Dalton failed to protect J.S. It alleges that Dalton “should have been aware of previous complaints that Dunnan had engaged in sexual misconduct or other inappropriate behavior”. The lawsuit also criticizes Dalton for abandoning its lofty values.
J.S. is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from both parties.