Jane Doe vs. Camden City School District, et al

Case Background

On September 28, 2021, Plaintiff Jane Doe filed a Sexual Abuse lawsuit in the New Jersey Superior Court, Camden County (Case number: CAM-L-002951-21). Judge John S. Kennedy presided over the case.

Cause

The allegations stem from incidents in 1994 when Doe was a 14-year-old student at Cooper B. Hatch Middle School. Muhammad held multiple roles: he was a social studies teacher, a Muslim minister, and a member of the Camden City School District Advisory Board of Education. The abuse began in January 1994 and persisted for several years across various locations, including school property and motels. The complaint stated that school administrators were aware of the abuse but failed to act appropriately to protect Doe.

Injuries

The sexual abuse inflicted severe physical and psychological trauma on Doe. She experienced repeated assaults that caused immediate harm and long-term psychological issues. The abuse disrupted her education and led to significant mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. These conditions necessitated extensive professional treatment and adversely affected her ability to form relationships, pursue education, and maintain stable employment.

Damages

Doe sought both compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages included past medical expenses for physical and psychological treatment and future medical care for ongoing trauma. She also claimed lost earning capacity due to educational disruption and psychological barriers to employment. Emotional distress damages were detailed in her claim to cover acute suffering, long-term anguish, public humiliation, and damage to her self-worth. The plaintiff requested that all defendants be held jointly liable for the full scope of damages.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Jane Doe
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Jeffrey P. Fritz| Brian Doyle
  • Defendant(s):Camden City School District | Camden City Board of Education | Don Walker a/k/a Wasim Muhammad
    • Counsel for Defendants: Jessica M. Anderson| Erin Donegan | Brian P. Budic | Ashley M. Zimmerman | Troy A. Archie

Claims

The Sexual Abuse complaint included multiple causes of action:

Institutional Negligence: Allegations against the school district for failing to protect a minor.

Negligent Supervision: Claims based on the district’s failure to monitor teacher conduct.

Violations of New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination: Related to sexual harassment in education.

Failure to Report Child Abuse: Breaches of mandatory reporting requirements under state law.

Assault and Battery: Direct claims against Muhammad.

Federal Violations: Concerning the transportation of minors across state lines for sexual purposes.

New Jersey Child Sexual Abuse Act Violations: Specific breaches related to child sexual abuse.

Emotional Distress Claims: For both negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Defense

In November 2021, Muhammad responded with several affirmative defenses:

  • Challenge to the legal sufficiency of the complaint.
  • Dispute over the extent of damages claimed by Doe.
  • Assertion of third-party liability.
  • Argument that Doe failed to mitigate her damages.

The Camden Board of Education denied all allegations and asserted various affirmative defenses. They filed crossclaims seeking contribution from other defendants if found liable and demanded access to medical records referenced in the complaint.

Jury Verdict

On May 14, 2024, a jury awarded Doe $1.6 million in compensatory damages. Although they did not find Muhammad liable for sexual assault as a minor, they held the Camden City School District responsible for willful misconduct and negligent supervision regarding Muhammad’s actions. The case concluded in June 2024 with a settlement agreement totaling $2 million—$400,000 more than the jury’s award—covering attorney fees as well in a Sexual Abuse lawsuit.

Court Documents:

Available Upon Request