Continued teaching at another suburban middle school following her resignation
Plaintiff’s attorneys believe teacher may have had more victims
CHICAGO (November 11, 2024) – Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard have filed a civil lawsuit against the Westchester School District claiming a former teacher pursued an inappropriate relationship and sexually abused a Westchester Middle School student on multiple occasions on school property and at school-sponsored functions from 1998-2000. That teacher, who resigned from her teaching and coaching positions in Westchester in August 2000, went on to teach for more than two decades at another Chicago-area middle school, leading attorneys to believe she could have other victims.
Details of the Sexual Abuse Allegations
According to a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court, the Defendant teacher, Dawn Chester, f/k/a Dawn Lach/ Dawn Anderson, was between the ages of 28 and 30 years old during the years 1998-2000, when she was the Plaintiff’s science teacher in 6th grade and volleyball coach in 7th grade. The Plaintiff was an 11-year-old girl when the events described in the complaint began. At the time, the Defendant went by the name “Dawn Lach.”
Timeline and Signs of Alleged Sexual Abuse
The lawsuit alleges that when Plaintiff was in 6th grade in 1998, Plaintiff participated in a school-sponsored overnight camp that traveled to Wisconsin. Chester served as a chaperone on the trip and allegedly touched the Plaintiff inappropriately. Following the trip, Chester would write unnecessary detentions for Plaintiff which would require them to spend time alone together before school. During this time, Chester was a teacher in a position of authority, and she began writing inappropriate letters to the Plaintiff while on school premises. The letters complimented Plaintiff’s appearance and instructed Plaintiff to skip class or ask for bathroom breaks to come see her alone in her classroom. The lawsuit alleges Chester used those settings to make sexual contact with the Plaintiff. The lawsuit further alleges that Chester sexually abused Plaintiff repeatedly on the school grounds, including Chester’s classroom, science lab, locker room, and the school gym.
In undated letters, Chester wrote things such as, “When I hear somebody call your name, I can feel my heart smile;” and “I really care about you…You never tell me how you feel about me anymore. Find a few minutes and write down exactly how you feel about me.”
The inappropriate and unsolicited letters continued through Plaintiff’s 7th grade year, during which time they escalated in nature. In one letter dated April 12, 2000, Chester wrote, “I’m having a hard time going full days without talking to you. I just feel like something is missing (any idea what it could be?).” In these letters, Chester stressed the importance of Plaintiff keeping their encounters a secret from her family and peers.
School District Response
That school year, Plaintiff’s volleyball team participated in a school-sanctioned sleepover, which Chester attended as the coach. During the sleepover, Chester had Plaintiff lay with her on an air mattress while the other children slept in their sleeping bags nearby. It was later revealed that the Westchester Superintendent recalled being notified of the incident by at least three students and one parent shortly after the sleepover but did nothing to address the issue.
Chester continued to send letters to Plaintiff until mid-2000 when their mother found the letters and reported them to school district employees. The school’s legal team recommended to administrators that Chester should resign, which she formally did in August of 2000. Following her resignation, no employee of Westchester notified or reported Chester to law enforcement or DCFS, as required by law.
Transition to Another School Following Resignation
In June of 2024, Plaintiff, now 37, discovered through social media that Chester was working as a teacher at Northlake Middle School and immediately reported the offenses to the school and local authorities. Chester, now 54, was placed on administrative leave from Berkeley School District 87 pending their investigation. In addition, Chester was indicted on a felony charge of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of a victim under 18 by someone in a position of trust.
Legal Implications of the Case
Plaintiff retained the law firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard to pursue a civil suit against the Westchester School District 92 ½, Westchester Middle School, the Westchester School Board, and Dawn Chester. Plaintiff hopes that by coming forward with this story, other victims will be empowered to fight for justice and know they are not alone in their pain.
Statement from the Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard Legal Team
“We intend to prove at trial that the Westchester School District and its employees violated their position of trust, and their inaction allowed the Defendant to continue her inappropriate relationship with our client, who was just a child at the time of the abuse,” Plaintiff’s attorney David J. Rashid said. “As a result of the sexual and emotional abuse, our client has suffered immensely in the two decades since this happened. It is doubtful she will ever recover from the exploitation she endured during middle school, but we can stop this from happening to another innocent child by holding those accountable responsible for their negligence.”
The Plaintiff is also represented by attorneys Jennifer L. Ashley and Heidi L. Wickstrom of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. The attorneys will hold a press conference on Tuesday, November 12 at 10 a.m. at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., 161 N. Clark Street, Suite #4700, in Chicago. During the press conference, a representative will read a statement from the Plaintiff. Copies of the letters will be shown at the press conference but will not be available for distribution.
What if I or a loved one was a victim?
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Dawn Chester/ Dawn Lach/ Dawn Anderson, or with additional information is asked to contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. at (312) 372-1227, or email drashid@salvilaw.com.
For media inquiries, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.
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2024 L 012519 [PLAINTIFF A, Plaintiff, v. WESTCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD; WESTCHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL; WESTCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT 92 ½; and DAWN LACH; Defendants.]
