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John Cooper School moves to dismiss $15M assault suit

**John Cooper School Seeks Dismissal of $15 Million Lawsuit Alleging Negligence in Teacher Misconduct Case**

**THE WOODLANDS, TX** – The John Cooper School in The Woodlands has filed a motion to dismiss a $15 million lawsuit accusing the institution of failing to protect students from alleged predatory behavior by a former teacher. The private K-12 school contends that the plaintiffs’ claims lack legal basis and sufficient specificity to proceed.

The lawsuit, originally filed in August 2023 in Montgomery County District Court, names the families of four former students as plaintiffs. They allege that the school was negligent in its duty to safeguard their children from Richard D. Dworaczyk, a former teacher who retired in May 2022. The plaintiffs claim Dworaczyk engaged in inappropriate conduct spanning from 2008 to 2022.

According to court documents, the school initiated an internal investigation into Dworaczyk’s conduct in February 2022, shortly before his retirement. The plaintiffs assert that The John Cooper School either knew, or reasonably should have known, about Dworaczyk’s alleged behavior much earlier and failed to take appropriate action, leading to significant emotional distress for the students.

In their motion to dismiss, attorneys for The John Cooper School argue that the lawsuit fails to establish an “actionable connection” between any alleged negligence on the school’s part and the injuries suffered by the students. They contend that the initial petition lacked the specific details required to support the claims of negligence and gross negligence. The school’s legal team is seeking to have the entire suit dismissed with prejudice, which would prevent the plaintiffs from refiling the same claims.

Following the school’s motion, the plaintiffs filed an amended petition, aiming to address the specificity concerns raised by the defense. This updated filing is intended to provide more detailed allegations regarding the school’s alleged knowledge and inaction.

The legal battle now rests with the court, which will review the arguments presented by both sides regarding the motion to dismiss. A decision on whether the case will move forward to discovery and potentially trial is anticipated in the coming months.

The lawsuit highlights the ongoing scrutiny faced by educational institutions concerning their responsibility to prevent and respond to allegations of misconduct by staff. For The John Cooper School, a prominent independent school in the Houston metropolitan area, the case has brought attention to its internal policies and procedures for student safety and faculty oversight.

Details about the specific nature of the allegations against Dworaczyk and the school’s alleged awareness are contained within confidential court filings, as is typical in such cases. The outcome of the motion to dismiss will be a critical juncture in this significant legal challenge.

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