The family of an eight-year-old girl with special educational needs has filed a lawsuit against the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), the elementary school she attended, 25 unnamed individuals, and the estate of a former district employee, alleging child sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. 

The complaint was filed on March 18 by the girl’s parents, identified in court documents as Jane M. Doe and John F. Doe. The child, referred to as Jane K. Doe to protect her identity, had been enrolled at Emerson Elementary School, located in Southcrest, since December 2024.

According to the lawsuit, the child was placed in contact with Brandon McDonald, who at the time worked as a special education teacher or aide and is accused of committing the alleged abuse. The complaint also names 25 additional defendants, listed as “Does 1 through 25,” along with the school, McDonald’s estate, and the school district.

The plaintiffs claim that the district, the school, and the estate of the former employee allowed him direct access to the child, which allegedly led to the acts of sexual abuse. According to Fox 5 San Diego.

Court documents state that McDonald died in January 2025, just weeks after the alleged incidents and while he was under investigation by the San Diego Police Department.

The parents further allege that officials were aware of ongoing staffing shortages affecting the proper supervision of students with special needs but failed to take corrective action.

In response, the San Diego Unified School District said in a statement that it takes such allegations very seriously and is currently conducting a thorough review of the claims.

The lawsuit includes allegations of negligence and emotional distress, as well as gender-based violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment. District officials added that they cannot provide further details at this time but emphasized that the case will receive the attention it warrants. Information based on the article: Family sues San Diego Unified School District, school and former employee in child sex abuse lawsuit.