BILLINGS – An eastern Montana school district is denying that staff knew about a former athletic trainer allegedly sexually abusing male student-athletes for decades under the guise of improving their athletic ability.
The Billings Gazette reports the Miles City school district’s denial was made in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of 19 former students, who also sued the volunteer trainer, James Jensen.
The school district also filed a cross complaint against Jensen, who is now 78, alleging he fraudulently misled the school district.
The response doesn’t deny the abuse occurred, but argues the district should not be held liable.
The district’s response, filed Monday, acknowledges a parent complained about Jensen in late 1997, but said it involved vague “unease” and not the specific concerns addressed in the lawsuit. Jensen’s contract was not renewed.