LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Black student at the elite Harvard-Westlake School has filed a lawsuit accusing a teammate of repeatedly sexually assaulting him and subjecting him to racist harassment while school officials failed to stop the abuse.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, names water polo standout Lucca van der Woude, the school, president Richard B. Commons and water polo coach Jack Grover as defendants.
According to the complaint, the alleged abuse occurred between August 2022 and February 2024 on the school’s Los Angeles campus.
The plaintiff, who was a freshman on the varsity water polo team at the time, alleges van der Woude repeatedly sexually assaulted him by digitally penetrating him during practices and team activities in the pool, locker rooms, showers and other areas on campus.
The lawsuit also claims the plaintiff was subjected to repeated racist harassment. According to the complaint, the teammate frequently used the N-word, mocked the student’s race and referenced slavery while forcing him to perform humiliating drills during practice.
The student alleges he reported the incidents to coaches and administrators, but says the school failed to contact law enforcement or child protective services and allowed the behavior to continue.
During one meeting with school officials, the complaint states the student demonstrated how the alleged assault occurred by folding a pillow and pushing his finger into the crease.
Attorneys representing the student said they expect the facts to come out as the case moves through court.
Harvard-Westlake said in a statement it disputes many of the allegations. The school said it acted quickly once it learned of the claims and reported the matter in accordance with mandatory reporting laws.
The lawsuit seeks damages and accuses the defendants of negligence and failing to protect a student from abuse.
The case remains pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
