A south suburban teen is suing a former teacher who is already charged criminally with sexually assaulting the boy.
Claiming “emotional distress, the teen — who identified himself only as “John Doe” — filed suit in Cook County Circuit on Tuesday against the Rich Township High School District 227 and former teacher Sarah L. Tolzien. He’s seeking at least $50,000 for what the suit calls “intentional infliction of severe emotional distress.”
The suit stems from November 2008 when the Rich South High School teacher, then 24, allegedly had sex twice with the boy, then 16.
Tolzien resigned the following December after being placed on administrative leave.
The Arlington Heights woman was charged criminally with felony sexual assault in connection with the case.
Authorities said the sexual encounters happened Nov. 14 and 17, when Tolzien drove the boy home from school. Tolzien, a language arts teacher, also coached the boys varsity cross-country team, and the boy was a member of the team, police said.
A school district official couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, and a man who answered the phone at Tolzien’s home said she wasn’t available for comment.
The teen’s attorney said he’s still in school but receiving counseling.
“He’s trying to get on with his life but this is an incident that could have far-reaching consequences — beyond what he thinks now. He’s very young,” said Loop attorney Jeffrey S. Deutschman.
Read the original article from Tribune News Services.