Teenager sexually assaulted by teacher files damages suit over stress disorder

A female teenager in Hokkaido has filed a suit seeking 105 million yen in damages following repeated sexual assaults by a junior high school teacher that left her with post-traumatic stress disorder, her lawyer said Thursday.

The suit also claims that the school and the Hokkaido prefectural education board neglected to take any measures, and is seeking the damages from the teacher, school principal and local government.

According to the suit filed with the Sapporo District Court, she was repeatedly assaulted by the teacher at her home and school for two years from April 2004. She was diagnosed as suffering from PTSD later.

The teacher, who was in his 30s and was eventually arrested for violating the Child Welfare Law and fired, is now serving a prison term.

Though her father and relatives asked the school to take preventive measures, the teacher did not stop assaulting her, prompting her father report to the police in February last year.

Her lawyer Tsuyoshi Takamori said, "The school's and the prefectural education board's failure to take appropriate measures increased her suffering."

An official of the prefectural government said, "We will respond appropriately after reviewing the complaint."