Preview
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
STATE OF NEW YORK
SUPREME COURT : COUNTY OF ERIE
NJ.S., an infant, by and through his VERIFIED BILL OF
Parent, and Natural Guardian, PARTICULARS
MICHELE SARDO, and
MICHELE SARDO, Individually, Index No.: 805265/2020
Plaintiff,
-VS.-
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION
WEST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL,
Defendants.
1. May 10, 2019, and approximately two (2) weeks prior to May 10, 2019, fmm
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
2. Basement of West Senior High School, located at 3330 Seneca Street, West
Seneca, New York 14224.
3. On or about May 10, 2019, the infant was subjected to sexual assault, oral and
vaginal rape, forcible touching, and sexual and physical assault and abuse; and approximately
two (2) weeks prior to May 10, 2019, at or near the same location, the infant plaintiff was
subjected to sexual assault and/or abuse, forcible touching, and physical assault.
4. Upon information and belief, the School Defendants, their agents, servants and/or
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
employees, were negligent in: failing to properly supervise, maintain, operate and control the
premises in question; that they allowed pupils, like the infant Plaintiff, to enter and/or access the
basement without adequate supervision and/or walk the hallways of the subject school after
school without proper supervision, management, control and/or security, thus creating a
dangerous and hazardous condition, which they knew or in exercise of reasonable care, should
have known existed for some period of time; that they failed to properly supervise the infant
Plaintiff and other pupils; that they failed to provide sufficient and proper protection and
safeguards for pupils, like the infant PlaintifE lawfully walking the hallways of the premises after
school; that they failed to provide sufficient and proper protection and safeguards to keep pupils,
like the infant Plaintiff from entering and/or accessing the basement of the subject school and/or
being lured into the basement by another student; that they failed to properly supervise the infant
Plaintiff after school; that they failed to formulate, implement and carry out policies regarding
the monitoring and supervision ofpupils after school; thatthey failed to have appropriate
policies and/or procedures in place regarding the activities of students after school and/or
students remaining on the premises after school and/or keep students from entering and/or
accessing the subject basement; that they failed to appropriately hire, retain, train, monitor, staff
students'
and/or otherwise supervise employees, or agents thereof, to ensure its safety after
school; that they failed to have competent, skillful and experienced employees and/or agents as
supervisors, teachers, monitors and/or security guards; that they failed to have a sufficient
number of individuals present to properly care for and supervise their pupils after school, like the
infant Plaintiff and her perpetrator; that their employees, or agents, so employed, were
incompetent, unskillful, and/or inexperienced; that they acted, or failed to act, so as to cause the
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
infant Plaintiff to be sexually assaulted and/or physically attacked, including without limitation
Defendants'
the School failure to reasonably and adequately supervise, control, and/or monitor
their pupils, including without limitation the infant Plaintiff and/or the perpetrator who
committed the sexual assault and/or physically attacked the infant Plaintift thereby causing the
serious, painful, and permanent injuries and other damages hereinafter alleged; that they allowed
Defendants'
sexual assault and/or abuse to persist in the School school, whereby the infant
Plaintift upon information and belief, had been victimized prior to the incident complained of
herein in the same location of the building; that they failed to properly respond to prior incidents
involving physical and/or sexual assault and/or abuse in the school basement; that they failed to
correct conditions which were dangerous to pupils after school prior to and on the day of the
physical and/or sexual assaults; that they failed to warn or otherwise notify the infant Plaintiff of
the dangerous condition(s) after school; that they created a dangerous condition(s) after school at
the subject school by allowing the subject basement to remain accesible; that they had actual
notice of dangerous condition(s) at the subject school after school hours; that they had
constructive notice of that dangerous condition(s) at the subject school; that they failed to correct
the dangerous condition(s) despite having sufficient time to do so; that the school Defendants
knew or should have known of the dangerous propensities of the perpetrator of said assualt and
attack, yet Defendants failed to take appropriate action remedy said dangerous conditions and/or
conduct and/or ensure the safety and well-being of the infant plaintif¶ including the infant
plaintiff having been victimized and lured into the basement of the subject school by the
perpetrator on a prior occasion; and for other negligent acts and/or omissions which may be
detennined throughout the course of discovery, all of which was a substantial factor in bringing
about the infant plaintiff's injuries.
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NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
Upon information and belief the school had notice of the aforementioned dangerous
condition(s) (i.e. access to subject basement and lack of supervision and/or inadequate
supervision in said basement), as another student in the school had been victimized and subjected
to sexual assault and/or abuse in the basement on or about Apirl 10, 2015.
Plaintiffs reserve the right to supplement and/or amend this Response as information,
which is currently solely in the possession of Defendants, is disclosed in accordance with the
CPLR and during the course of discovery.
5. Upon information and belief, plaintif N.J.S. suffered the injuries:
following
symptoms of PTSD and anxiety; hypervigilance; dissociation; avoidance; intrusive and irrational
thoughts; change of sleep and appetite; depressed mood; PTSD with depersonalization
dissociative features and generalized anxiety disorder; severe change in personality and
behavior; lack of sleep; cutting; loss of motivation; psychomotor agitation; suicidal self
ideation;
harm; poor concentration; avoidance of daily activities; feelings of hopelessness;
isolation;
nightmares; aggravation and/or activation of previously asymptomatic pre-existing undedying
anxiety; and that plaintiff was made more susceptible to injury due to pre-existing underlying
latent mental health conditions.
Upon information and belief, the infant plaintiff's injuries in all respects,
are, permanent,
progressive, and ongoing in-nature.
In addition to all of the injuries stated above, plaintif has been injured in that her general
quality of life and usual and customary daily activities have been severely hindered, impaired,
and damaged by virtue of the injuries which she sustained, together with the consequences of
those injuries, and she is unable to engage in many of those usual both physical and
activities,
mental, which previously provided her with satisfaction and enjoyment. plaintiff will be
Further,
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
claiming past, present and future pain and suffering. Plaintifs reserve the right 10 supplement
this response as treattnent continues.
Further, upon information and belief, plaintiff will require future care and treatment,
including but not limited to medical appointments, therapy, evaluation and/or medication.
Upon information and belief, plaintiff MICHELE SARDO sustained the loss of services,
society and consortium of her daughter, NJ.S.
5. Upon information and belief, plaintif was intennittently confined to bed and/or
home during her period of convalescence as will be testified to by plaintif more fully at her
deposition.
6. The precise amount of money which plaintif has expended for physiciaus,
medicines, hospital expenses, medical supplies, etc., is presently unknown and/or subject to
expert opinion not yet ascertained. Further, upon information and belief, this information is
available to defendant pursuant to duly executed authorizations peanitting her to obtain
plaintiE's records. Plaintif Twill also endeavor to compile this information and
medical/billing
will supplement this response as appropriate during the pendency of this action. Further, the
infant plaintif will be claiming past and future medical costs, which will be subject to expert
opinion not yet ascertained.
7. Upon information and belief, not applicable.
defendants' "8''
8. Plaintiffs object to demand at Paragraph as improper and beyond
the scope of CPLR 3043. Notwithstanding said information, plaintifs will provide said
information to Defendants over the phone.
defendants' "9"
9. Plaintiffs object to demand at Paragraph as improper and beyond
the scope of CPLR 3043. Notwithstanding said objection, Plaintifs will request the trial court to
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
take notice of and charge each and every statute, rule, regulation, law, violation, code, and/or
ordinance which will be shown by the proof at trial to have been violated by the School
Defendants.
10. See plaintiff's response in Paragraph "3".
10. Not applicable.
defendants' "11"
11. Plaintiffs object to demand at Paragraph as improper and beyond
the scope of CPLR 3043.
plaintiffs'
12, See response in Paragraph "4".
plaintiffs'
13. See response in Paragmph "4".
defendants' "14"
14. Plaintiff objects to demand at Paragraph as improper and
beyond the scope of CPLR 3043.
plaintiffs'
15. See response in Paragraph "3".
plaintiffs'
16. See response in Paragraph "4".
plaintiffs'
17. 5ee response in Paragraph "4".
plaintiffs'
18. See response in Paragraph "5".
DATED: Buffalo, New York
November 16, 2020
Josep .1ticastro, Esq.
R WOLFF NICASTRO HALL
Attorneys for Plaintifs
350 Main Street, Suite 2140
Buffalo, New York 14202
(716) 848-800
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
TO: Louis B. Dingeldey, Esq.
BAXTER SMITH & SHAPIRO, RC.
Attorneys for Defendants
182 Dwyer Street
West Seneca, New York 14224
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
VERIFICATION
STATE OF NEW YORK )
) ss:
COUNTY OF ERIE )
MICHELE SARDO, being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is a plaintiff in this
action; that she has read the foregoing Verified Bill of Particulars in this action and knows the
contents thereof; that the same is true to the knowledge of deponent, except as to the matters
therein stated to be alleged on information and belief, and that as to those matters, she believes it
to be true.
MICHELE SARDO
Sworn to before me this
If day of nr; ( , 2028
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
STATE OF NEW YORK
SUPREME COURT : COUNTY OF ERIE
N.J.S., an infant, by and through his PLAINTIFF'S FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL ..
Parent, and Natural Guardian, VERIFIED BILL OF PARTICULARS
MICHELE SARDO, and
MICHELE SARDO, Individually, Index No.: 805265/2020
Plaintiff,
-vs.-
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION
WEST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL,
Defendants.
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION
WEST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL,
Third-Party Plaintiffs
-vs-
CHRYSTLER LEE STORTS,
MICHAEL JAMES STORTZ
BARBARA ANNE STORTZ, and
HEATHER THIBEALT a/lda HEATHER A. STORTZ,
Third-Party Defendants
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that plaintiff, N.J.S., an infant, by and through her, Parent,
and Natural Guardian, MICHELE SARDO, and MICHELLE SARDO, Individually, by and
1
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
through their attorneys, Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall, LLC, as and for their Verified
Supplemental Bill of Particulars in response to the demand of the Defendants, states as follows:
1. Plaintiffs hereby repeat, reaffirm, and re-allege their Verified Bill of Particulars
dated November 16, 2020, with the same force and effect as though more fully set forth herein.
A copy is attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein as Exhibit A.
Defendants'
2. In further response to the demand for Bill of Particulars at Paragraph
"4", the School Defendants were further negligent, reckless, and careless:
» In having knowledge, and actual and constructive notice of prior similar sexual
conduct at or near the area where the subject incident occurred, to wit, an incident
that occurred on the ground floor of the school known to the Defendants as the
"basement"
of the school on or about April 10, 2015, involving former students
D.B. and J.O., whereby J.O. was sexually assaulted by D.B., and engaged in
conduct that was sexual, disruptive, insubordinate or disorderly, said conduct
endangered the safety, morals, health or welfare of others;
> In having knowledge, and actual and constructive notice of prior similar sexual
conduct at the exact same place or near the area where the subject incident
occurred, to wit, an incident that occurred on the ground floor of the school
"basement"
known to the Defendants as the of the school on or about April 5,
2019, involving former students D.Alt and G.A.M., whereby both students were
engaged in a sexual act on school grounds, and engaged in sexual, disruptive,
insubordinate or disorderly, conduct and engaged in conduct that endangered the
safety, morals, health or welfare of others;
> In that Defendants could have reasonably anticipated an incident like the
Plaintiff's occurring having had knowledge, and actual and constructive notice of
prior similar incidents that were sexual, disruptive, insubordinate and/or
disorderly and endangered the safety, morals, health or welfare of others,
including without limitation the Plaintiff;
> In that Defendants could have reasonably anticipated an incident like the
Plaintiff's occurring in that they failed to correct the subject conditions, which
allowed students to occupy, linger, conceal themselves in, and loiter in the subject
area to engage in sexual, disruptive, insubordinate and/or disorderly conduct that
endangered the safety, morals, health or welfare of others, including without
limitation the Plaintiff;
In that Defendants could have reasonably anticipated an incident like the
Plaintiff's occurring in that they continued to allow students to access the ground
2
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/01/2023 01:43 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 86 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/01/2023
"basement"
floor of the school known to the Defendants as the of the school, in
and around the area where the subject incident occurred, without any supervision,
control and/or monitoring by Defendants;
In that supervision by the School Defendants could have prevented the subject
incident given that the Defendants had knowledge, along with actual and
constructive notice of prior similar incidents that occurred on the ground floor of
"basement"
the school known to the Defendants as the of the school that were
sexual, disruptive, insubordinate and/or disorderly, incidents that endangered the
safety, morals, health or welfare of others, including without limitation the
Plaintiffs;
In that the School Defendants could have prevented the subject incident following
the prior similar incidents by: installing cameras and other surveillance in and
around the area where the subject incident and other prior incidents occurred;
having teachers, faculty, staff or security personnel monitor the area in and around
where the incident and prior incidents occurred; installing a barrier to keep
students out of the area where the subject incident occurred; and having other
protections and safeguards in place;
In permitting a sexually depraved environment and an environment that allowed
Defendants' Defendants'
sexual abuse to persist in the subject school and/or in the
school district in that there was a pattern and practice of permitting such an
Defendants'
environment to persist under supervision, as evidenced by:
o In 2007, Anthony Harper, a teacher at East Middle charged with sexual
abuse of a 13-year-old boy, and a second incident involving Mr. Harper
emerged in 2020;
o In 2012, West Seneca substitute teacher Timothy Bek sentenced to
being
thirty (30) years in prison for child pornography involving students;
o In 2016, male students at West High School took nude photos of female
students, put them in a DropBox account and tried to sell the password to
other students; and
o In 2019, David Calaiacovo, a retired school psychologist in the West
Seneca schools, was charged with possession of child pornography (The
61-year-old possessed and received sexually explicit images of rninors,
some as young as 3 years old); and
Having had knowledge, and actual and constructive notice of the incidents
involving DropBox, Harper, Bek and Calaiacovo, failing to take any measures
and/or precautions to prevent future incidents of sexual