John Cooper School Sued for Sexual Abuse, $15M Claim

**Former Student Files $15 Million Lawsuit Against The John Cooper School, Alleging Sexual Abuse by Former Teacher**

THE WOODLANDS, TX — A former student, identified in court documents as “John Doe,” filed a $15 million lawsuit this past Friday, May 24, against The John Cooper School in The Woodlands, alleging he was sexually abused by former drama teacher and coach Michael Earl Clark between 2005 and 2008. The lawsuit claims the prestigious independent school was negligent in its duty to protect students.

The civil complaint, filed in a local district court, details allegations of sexual abuse occurring when John Doe was a student at Cooper. The lawsuit asserts the abuse took place both on school grounds, specifically in Clark’s classroom and the theater dressing room, and off-campus at Clark’s apartment.

Officials at The John Cooper School quickly issued a statement Friday, calling the lawsuit “unfounded.” The school maintained that upon becoming aware of allegations against Clark in 2011, they promptly reported the matter to authorities and terminated Clark’s employment immediately. The school also asserted that Clark had successfully passed all required background checks during his tenure, which began in 2000.

Clark, who taught drama and theater and coached cross country, faced criminal charges shortly after his departure from Cooper. In 2012, he was charged with indecency with a child. Court records show that Clark eventually pleaded guilty in 2014 to a lesser charge of misdemeanor assault and received deferred adjudication, a form of probation that, if successfully completed, can result in the dismissal of charges without a conviction.

John Doe’s lawsuit argues that The John Cooper School was negligent, alleging that school administrators knew or should have known about Clark’s predatory behavior and failed to take adequate measures to protect its students. The $15 million in damages sought by John Doe aims to cover emotional distress, medical expenses, lost wages, and other related damages resulting from the alleged abuse.

The use of “John Doe” in the lawsuit is a common legal practice to protect the identity of alleged victims in sensitive cases, particularly those involving sexual abuse. The lawsuit marks the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy legal process.