BILLINGS – Attorneys for the Miles City Unified School District are asking a judge to dismiss a massive civil case surrounding their longtime athletic trainer who is accused of sexually abusing hundreds of boys.
- Change of plea for former Miles City trainer postponed again; different judge requested
- Victims demand Miles City school district hand over evidence in case against ex-athletic trainer
In a statement below, attorney Jeana Lervick said the case is legally improper.
Miles City Public Schools did the best that it could with what little information it had in the mid-1990s. Mr. Jensen’s scheme of keeping students from talking was quite extensive, and it’s not surprising that the District was not aware of his actions. The administrators in charge went above and beyond to address what little information they had—these men were lifelong educators and parents of students at the time. They had no reason to hide or ignore the horrors Mr. Jensen appears to have inflicted. The motion discusses the legal issues with Plaintiffs’ complaint and asks that two of the six claims be dismissed as legally improper.
The lawsuit involves 79-year-old James Jensen – who is expected to be in a Missoula federal courtroom Tuesday- to plead guilty to separate federal charges of coercion.
Those with the school district say school administrators in charge, went above and beyond to address what little information they had.
The district also says they had no reason to hide or ignore the horrors Mr. Jensen appears to have inflicted.
In September, a massive case was filed on behalf of 31 former student-athletes who say they were given massages and inappropriate rubdowns in a sophisticated ritual of sexual abuse.
Jensen is set to appear in Missoula federal court Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. where the court will consider his motion to change his plea of not guilty to guilty.
