Family files claim in coach case

The Cochran Firm, with 21 locations nationwide

By Denise Nix

Torrance school district is accused of not adequately investigating 14-year-old girl's complaints that South High basketball coach engaged in sexual acts with her.

The family of a girl who was molested by a former South High School coach announced Wednesday that they have filed a claim against the Torrance school district in hopes of sparing others a similar fate.

The claim, filed Tuesday, accuses the Torrance Unified School District of not adequately investigating the 14-year-old girl's complaints that walk-on basketball coach Leonard Butler engaged in sexual acts with her.The district also failed to implement reasonable safeguards to ensure such acts would be avoided, according to the claim.

The girl was not a South High student; she met Butler through his capacity as youth sports director at the Torrance-South Bay YMCA. But there is an allegation that some of the sexual misconduct occurred on a school campus.

Attorneys Joseph Barrett and Brian Dunn of The Cochran Firm declined to elaborate on the perceived failings of the school district. Superintendent George Mannon said he could not comment on the pending litigation.

However, he added, "When the allegations came to light, we terminated Mr. Butler and have fully cooperated with the Torrance Police Department."

Barrett and Dunn said the girl's family came to them because they were afraid other children could be at risk and want to hold the school district accountable for their safety.

"What we're most concerned about is preventing this sort of thing from happening to another family," Dunn said.Butler, 48, pleaded no contest last week to molesting the 14-year-old and another girl. He returns to court Dec. 3 for sentencing and faces up to three years in state prison.

The attorneys said they want to know what kind of background and employment checks the district conducted before Butler was allowed to work as a basketball coach.

Dunn told reporters he did not want to address specific allegations, saying he preferred to litigate the case in a courtroom. But, he added, there were "red flags" that adults at South High should have seen and reported regarding Butler's interactions with girls.

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