Teacher Sued by Student

(Conneaut, Ohio) A former art teacher at Rowe Junior High School, Nancy Hedrick (AKA Nancy Seacrist), faces a civil lawsuit filed by a 17-year-old Parma boy and his mother. The lawsuit names the Conneaut Board of Education as a co-defendant and seeks $450,000 in compensatory and punitive damages resulting from sexual contact between Hedrick/Seacrist and the boy four years ago. The sexual contact is alleged to have occurred on and off school property.

According to the lawsuit, the 17-year-old suffers mental and emotional distress, humiliation and medical expenses. Future medical expenses are anticipated.

Interestingly, Conneaut Police were notified about the alleged sexual contact in 2003. Investigators failed to file criminal charges.

A jury trial before Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court Judge Alfred Mackey is scheduled for February 2007 but the case may be settled before then.

Tip: Don Morgenstern