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Bellingham Public Schools settles federal lawsuit over failing to report sexual assault

District calls settlement 'amicable,' details of deal sparse

By Charlotte Alden General Assignment/Enterprise Reporter

Bellingham Public Schools has reached a settlement with a former student who sued the district for failing to report allegations of sexual assault. 

In a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, the former Squalicum High School student alleged a “pattern of extreme and outrageous conduct” resulting in extreme emotional distress. Court documents detail that counsel reached a settlement in the case, which was dismissed with prejudice on Oct. 2. A jury trial initially set for Dec. 9 will no longer occur. 

The student, who was a victim of sexual assault in fall 2021 by a male student, filed the lawsuit on grounds of “civil rights violations, negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” 

In a statement on Oct. 9, Assistant Communications Director Dana Smith wrote that “Bellingham Public Schools and the plaintiff have agreed to an amicable settlement that dismisses all claims alleged against the district in the lawsuit.” She added that neither party admits “fault or liability” regarding the lawsuit’s claims. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

This marks the resolution of the third of three cases related to sexual conduct alleged to have occurred on school grounds in November and December 2021. A male student was arrested in February 2022 and sentenced to 18–20 weeks in juvenile custody in July 2023. 

In December 2022, Bellingham Police charged three school administrators — Squalicum High School assistant principals Jeremy G. Louzao and Meghan V. Dunham, and Bellingham High School assistant principal Maude Chimere Hackney — with failure to report the sexual assault, a gross misdemeanor.

Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office resolved those criminal charges against the administrators in December 2023, requiring the three to complete community service and “acknowledge that they should have done more than what they did” in statements, Prosecuting Attorney Eric Richey said. 

In the statements signed Dec. 5, 2023, Louzao, Dunham and Hackney said they believed they were responding appropriately to “allegations of unwanted sexual contact between two students based on their training and experience,” but after a full review of the incident acknowledged that the contact “should have been reported to the Department of Children Youth and Families.”  

The three assistant principals have all remained employed in the school district. 


Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.

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