Los Gatos Union School District settles sexual abuse suit for $5.1 million

LOS GATOS – The Los Gatos Union School District has agreed to pay $5.1 million to two former students who were sexually abused by a Blossom Hill Elementary teacher and youth theater director, according to the victims’ attorneys and the district.

A suit filed by San Jose-based law firm Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard alleged that one victim, referred to as John Doe, was sexually assaulted in early 2020 and that the second, referred to as John Doe 2, was sexually abused between 2008 and 2009.

John Doe will receive $900,000 and John Doe 2 will receive $4.2 million, the firm said in a statement Friday.

According to the lawsuit, John Doe 2 was so ashamed and disgusted by the abuse that he poured a cup of scalding water on his genitals in an attempt to mutilate himself.

“John Doe 2’s abuse was so horrific that he’s still suffering from what happened to him when he was a little boy,” said attorney Mark Boskovich. “He can use this settlement to get the help he needs since he continues to suffer from anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation.”

Joseph Brian Houg was sentenced in November 2021 to 35 years in prison for molesting 10 former Blossom Hill students, including John Doe 2. In John Doe 2’s case, Houg was convicted of three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child by force, duress, menace or fear, according to the law firm.

The district confirmed in a statement that a settlement had been reached with the two victims.

“For the good of our school community, including current and former students and their families, the district believes it was best to settle this matter so we can continue to focus on the education, health, and well-being of all our LGUSD students,” the statement read in part.

“We hope this settlement agreement will help to bring closure to the families involved.”

Boskovich said the district did not discipline or supervise Houg more closely after multiple complaints of verbal abuse and sexual harassment were lodged against him.

“We uncovered evidence of at least eleven complaints that were brought to the school’s attention between 2001 and 2020,” Boskovich said.

“This was unprecedented,” Boskovich said. “The school administrators involved in these complaints failed to protect these kids. Had the district documented and investigated the early complaints and properly supervised Houg, many kids would have been spared.”

Boskovich said he wants the district to “look at the administrators who failed to take action against Houg and make sure they are held accountable for their actions.”

Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office detectives first opened an investigation in May 2020 after a 13-year-old boy said the director of the Los Gatos Youth Theatre, later identified as Houg, had made him uncomfortable during a video call.

Houg repeatedly asked the boy to show him his stomach until he relented, and another child reported a similar incident, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

The investigation uncovered other incidents stretching back to 2003 and involving children as young as 8 years old. At Houg’s home in San Jose, detectives found electronic devices containing videos of young boys changing their clothes as well as videos and images of children in their underwear, according to the sheriff’s office.