Repressed Sex Abuse Memories Claim 'Not Credible,' Ex-Lake Forest High School Teacher Says

LAKE FOREST, IL — Attorneys for a former Lake Forest High School teacher have filed a motion for summary judgment in the case accusing her of sexually abusing a student more than three decades ago.

Sharon, a 55-year-old Oregon doctor, sued the school district and its former teacher and softball coach Cindy Martin, a 65-year-old Des Plaines resident, in May 2021.

According to the lawsuit, Martin sexually abused Sharon in the fall of 1986 when she was a 17-year-old junior at LFHS, and school district officials either knew about it or turned a blind eye to it before allowing, by 1988, the then-29-year-old teacher to move to another district.

U.S. District Judge Gary Feinerman dismissed about half of Sharon's 13-count complaint in March 2022, but he allowed it to survive a two-year statute of limitations because she invoked the "discovery rule," alleging that she had suppressed the memories of the abuse until after her daughter had entered high school in 2019.

But Martin's motion for summary judgment — a request for the judge to determine there is already enough undisputed evidence to require the case to be tossed out — cites Sharon's own testimony that she was always aware of the relationship, which continued well into her adulthood.

"I characterized it in my own head as a normal, healthy relationship," Sharon said in a recent deposition.

According to Sharon's testimony cited in the motion and an accompanying statement of facts, their relationship continued into her adult life.

The pair spent time together in Las Vegas and Chicago, with Sharon sending a letter to her former teacher and coach shortly before her 21st birthday "indicating she was still in love with Cindy despite that Sharon was in relationship with someone else," the motion said.

"In the November 6, 1994 card, Sharon wrote that she was glad to have a friend like Cindy and does not 'know where [she’d] be without [her],'" it said, citing one of several letters and postcards that have been entered into evidence in the case.

Sharon told a college friend and her ex-wife about her relationship, but recently began seeing it "through a really completely different light," she testified.

According to the statement of facts, Sharon told another LFHS alum who filed suit against the district that she had began looking into pressing charges but realized the statute of limitations had passed.

"When questioned further about pressing charges knowing the statute of limitations had passed, Sharon testified she decided to pursue civil charges because she was angry Cindy denied everything and was upset she did not apologize," it said.

Martin's attorneys argued that it not credible that a board-certified doctor trained in medical, pediatric and psychological fields did not appreciate the wrongfulness of the relationship until her own daughter entered high school.

"Sharon had 33 years to pursue civil charges. As Sharon’s testimony makes clear, this is not a case about suppressed memory, but rather about vengeance and financial gain," attorney John Scheid said in a memo supporting the motion for summary judgment.

"Sharon knew the statute of limitations passed but she pursued civil action anyway because she was angry with Cindy for denying the nature of the relationship and not apologizing," Scheid said.

On Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez granted Martin's motion to stay discovery in the case, halting the process pending consideration of the issues in the motion for summary judgment.

Sharon's lawyers have until Nov. 8 to respond to the motion.

Earlier:

• Sex Abuse Suits Blocked By Statute Of Limitations, LFHS Argues
• Teacher Sex Abuse Suit Against Lake Forest High School Permitted To Proceed
• 2 Sex Abuse Suits Filed Against Lake Forest High School, Teachers