New Legal Action Filed in Historical Abuse Case
A former student of Paramus Catholic High School has initiated legal proceedings, alleging he suffered sexual abuse by two school employees over three decades ago. The complaint identifies the individuals as former gym instructor Donn Ernst and former ice hockey coach Bernard Garris.
The lawsuit states the alleged misconduct took place from 1986 through 1989, during which time the student was between 14 and 17 years old. According to the filing, the plaintiff came from a "devout Roman Catholic family" and was particularly vulnerable to the authority held by adults.
"The culture of the Catholic Church over Plaintiff created pressure on Plaintiff not to report the abuse," the lawsuit asserts.
This legal action, submitted on December 17 in Essex County, represents the latest in a sequence of lawsuits accusing Ernst and Garris of sexually abusing students. Both men are now deceased; Garris departed the school in 1986, relocating to Minnesota before his death.
The defendants named in the new lawsuit include the Archdiocese of Newark, the Brothers of Christian Schools, and Paramus Catholic High School itself. The complaint alleges these entities failed to adequately supervise the two employees, did not implement proper policies to prevent child sexual abuse, and neglected to warn parents about potential risks.
When contacted for comment, Archdiocese of Newark spokesperson Maria Margiotta stated that the archdiocese does not comment on matters currently in litigation.
