Nearly a dozen families have filed a lawsuit against Huron Valley Schools, school administrators, and an educational staffing firm, accusing them of failing to stop the serial sexual abuse of young girls by substitute teacher Timothy Daugherty. The lawsuit, filed on September 22, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Detroit, expands on the previous charges Daugherty faced after being accused of inappropriately touching at least six victims at Spring Mills Elementary School in Highland Township.
A History of Abuse and Inaction
Timothy Daugherty was removed from his position as a substitute teacher in April 2024 after multiple allegations surfaced, and he was later convicted on six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The new lawsuit includes additional victims, with claims that Daugherty abused girls as young as 9 years old during his time at Spring Mills Elementary School. The lawsuit also highlights a separate case from 2016, when Daugherty was accused of sexually assaulting another girl, but the charges were dropped at the time.
The lawsuit claims that despite multiple reports of inappropriate behavior, including an incident where Daugherty allegedly made a student sit on his lap and touched her in 2023, school officials failed to report the abuse to the proper authorities, violating mandatory reporter laws.
Accountability and the Role of Edustaff
The lawsuit also targets Edustaff, the staffing agency that employed Daugherty. The complaint questions whether Edustaff knew about his previous sexual misconduct charge from 2016 and argues that the company failed in its responsibility to vet and supervise its staff. Daugherty had been employed by Edustaff since 2012 and worked at multiple schools within the Huron Valley district, yet his alleged history of misconduct went unchecked.
The District’s Response
Huron Valley Schools has responded to the lawsuit, emphasizing its commitment to student safety and well-being but declining to comment further due to ongoing litigation. The district’s spokeswoman assured families that student health and safety remain a top priority.
Supporting Survivors and Seeking Justice
At Helping Survivors, we stand with victims of sexual abuse and advocate for accountability and justice in cases like these. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse in the classroom or any other setting, it’s important to understand your rights and legal options.
Contact Helping Survivors today for confidential support, guidance, and resources to help navigate your journey toward healing.
