Lawsuit alleges sexual assault at Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School

The parents of student at Geibel Junior/Senior High School in Connellsville filed a federal lawsuit against the school, two administrators and a former student, alleging repeated incidents of sexual assault and harassment never were properly investigated.

According to the six-count lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, a female student contended, in March 2019, she repeatedly was accosted by a male student while at the school and on a school bus. The lawsuit alleges the male student on several occasions grabbed her buttocks and breasts, exposed his genitals and sent her pornographic pictures over social media.

“As a result of the (student’s) inappropriate actions and assault on the plaintiff, plaintiff suffered severe emotional distress, fear, embarrassment and shame,” lawyers wrote in the lawsuit.

One male student and Geibel Principal Patricia Nickler and Superintendent Maureen Marsteller were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The court filing contends the alleged victim and her parents and guardians notified school officials, who promised to investigate the claims and take corrective measures, but said that, months later, after no actions were taken. That inaction led to ongoing sexual harassment, assault and a sexually hostile educational environment that resulted in declining grades, according to the lawsuit.

Eight months after the initial complaints were made, in December 2019, the school’s guidance counselor overheard students talking about the allegations, notified state police and made a report to the principal and superintendent, who again took no actions, according to the lawsuit.

Geibel is operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg. Diocese officials on Tuesday declined to comment on specific allegations in the lawsuit.

“The Catholic schools of the Diocese of Greensburg assures all Catholic school families that the safety and well being of every student is our primary responsibility,” said diocese spokesman Paul Paterra.

Nickler was placed on administrative leave this year, Paterra said.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.