SRVUSD Settles $7M Lawsuit Alleging Negligence Against Teacher Sex Abuse

DANVILLE, CA — The San Ramon Valley Unified School District reached a settlement of nearly $7 million for a lawsuit brought by two former students who allege that the district failed to protect them from a former teacher’s sexual abuse, despite multiple warning signs. The settlement was finalized July 22.

The lawsuit was originally filed in February 2024, and amended in March 2024. It alleges that Ryan Weible, the former theater director at San Ramon Valley High School, sexually assaulted a student in the school’s theater room and on a district-sponsored trip to New York City, following grooming behaviors like giving her rides in his car, writing personal notes, and inappropriate touching. The second plaintiff claims that Weible sexually abused her shortly after the first plaintiff graduated.

According to the suit, Weible engaged in inappropriate behaviors with female minor students around 2010-2011, including side hugs and frontal hugs, inviting them to spend time in his office alone, giving hand massages, having them sit on his lap, and making inappropriate comments, among other behaviors.

The suit also alleges that SRVUSD received numerous complaints about Weible’s behavior, but did not notify the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, as required by law. The suit also alleges that since Weible was able to keep his job, he was able to obtain a job as assistant head of school at the private Bentley School.

“Despite obvious indicators of inappropriate conduct, the district failed to intervene, investigate, or report its suspicions to the appropriate authorities,” Lauren Cerri, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told DanvilleSanRamon. “They neglected crucial disciplinary procedures and failed to provide staff with adequate training to identify or respond to grooming and abuse. This allowed Weible’s predatory actions to continue unchecked for years.”

Weible has denied these allegations, according to court filings. In 2023, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute Weible, citing insufficient evidence, according to Bay City News.

In a statement shared with Patch, SRVUSD Superintendent CJ Cammack, who was not with the district at the time of the alleged abuse “deeply disturbing” and acknowledged the “devastating impact such a betrayal can have on the victims.”

Cammack also said that the district followed all legally required hiring practices at the time, but has since made “comprehensive improvements” to hiring and background check procedures, and “enhanced” and “fortified” the steps it will take to both prevent abuse and respond to concerns.