Jarrett Johnson Teams Up With DC firm Sanford Heisler in Pembroke Hill Lawsuit
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight brought McGonagle Johnson partner Jarrett Johnson into the case as local counsel, and Jarrett filed the lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court on behalf of a former Pembroke Hill School student and her parents.
Jarrett is working alongside Christine Dunn and Jillian Seymour of Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP, a national law firm whose practice includes sexual violence, Title IX, victims’ rights, and civil rights matters.
The lawsuit names The Pembroke Hill School and former teacher Michael Jones as defendants. The minor plaintiff is identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe.
According to the complaint, Jane Doe alleges that Jones groomed and sexually abused her during the 2021–2022 school year, when she was nine years old and a fourth-grade student in his class at Pembroke Hill.
The complaint further alleges that Pembroke Hill received warnings about Jones’s alleged inappropriate conduct with elementary-aged girls at a previous school before hiring him. The plaintiffs allege that Pembroke later received additional reports concerning Jones’s conduct but continued to allow him access to students.
The lawsuit asserts claims arising from the alleged abuse and Pembroke Hill’s hiring, retention, and supervision of Jones.
Kansas City Star Reports on Lawsuit
The Kansas City Star has reported on the lawsuit, including the plaintiffs’ allegations concerning Jones’s employment history and warnings allegedly received by Pembroke Hill before Jane Doe became his student.
Pembroke Hill told The Star that when it learned of Jane Doe’s allegations in 2024, the school took them seriously, placed Jones on administrative leave, conducted an internal investigation, and worked with the State of Missouri. The school further stated that its investigation and an investigation by the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division determined that the allegations were unsubstantiated.
The Star reported that Jones could not be reached for comment and that the lawsuit did not identify an attorney representing him.
Representing Jane Doe and Her Family
Cases involving the alleged sexual abuse of children present extraordinarily sensitive circumstances for victims and their families. They can also raise important questions about the responsibilities of institutions when hiring, supervising, and retaining people entrusted with the care of children.
McGonagle Johnson is looking forward to serving as local counsel alongside Christine Dunn and Jillian Seymour and the team at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight in representing Jane Doe and her family.
The case remains pending in Jackson County Circuit Court. The allegations described above are contained in the plaintiffs’ complaint and have not been adjudicated.
Read More
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight has published additional information about the lawsuit and the allegations contained in the complaint.
The Kansas City Star has published an in-depth report examining the lawsuit, the allegations concerning Jones’s employment history, and Pembroke Hill’s response.
McGonagle Johnson will continue to represent Jane Doe and her family as the litigation proceeds.
