A three-week trial came to a close in December 2023 as the jury awarded $25 million to a sexual abuse survivor in a lawsuit against the Santa Barbara Unified School District.
A three-week trial came to a close in December 2023 as the jury awarded $25 million to a sexual abuse survivor in a lawsuit against the Santa Barbara Unified School District. At least three former students claim that Dos Pueblos High School failed to prevent sexual misconduct by security guard and assistant football coach Justin Sell.
Sell began working at the high school in 2007, and conflict arose almost immediately. Parents and other faculty members were uncomfortable with his behavior around young male students. Multiple complaints to the school were made, stating that Sell enjoyed eating lunch with freshman boys instead of performing required job tasks, and expressed favoritism towards certain male students.
In 2008, law enforcement was called when Sell punched a student in the face. Still, he was promoted to full-time security guard that year.
During the 2010 school year, the head football coach ended Justin Sell’s contract as assistant coach due to misconduct. Still, he remained on campus. Shortly after his termination, the parents of an alleged victim made an official complaint to the administration. Dos Pueblos High School did not report this complaint to law enforcement, and therefore failed to uphold their legal obligation to protect students.
The school district transferred Sell to another high school in 2011. Additionally, the administration took “confidential” measures to allow him to resign instead of being fired.
It wasn’t until 2013 that Sell’s misconduct became public knowledge. Two teenage students filed police reports against the former assistant football coach, and he was arrested on felony stalking and sexual assault charges. Justin Sell pled no contest to sexual abuse, “served one year in prison, five years of felony probation, and is registered for life with the sex offender registry.”
During the trial, one of the survivors brought to light the pattern of stalking, grooming, blackmail, and sexual abuse that he experienced. As a teenager, he was bribed by gifts from Sell, which escalated to massages and eventually traumatizing sexual assault.
The school district was found to be 80% responsible for the sexual abuse committed by Sell.
This is the largest jury verdict against the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Still, many other claims have been made against the school. Attorneys assert that this pattern of negligence is unacceptable. Additional lawsuits against Justin Sell are ongoing.
Authors: Alexis Kabat and Andy Goldwasser
