Child sex abuse lawsuit filed against military academy near Milwaukee

 A Chicago-based law firm filed a child sex abuse lawsuit against a Wisconsin military academy Monday.

The lawsuit, filed by Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, alleges that St. John’s Northwestern Academies — located in Delafield, Wisconsin, just west of Milwaukee — fostered a ‘Lord of the Flies’ atmosphere among student cadets that allowed and encouraged student self-governance where multiple on-campus incidents of physical and sexual violence between cadets were overlooked by the academy.

According to SJNA’s website, they use a prefect-style model at their academy, which is where the academy encourages student self-governance through ‘Preps’ — older students — accepting the responsibility of assisting and guiding other students in the classroom, residence halls, and other group activities.

In further detail, the lawsuit alleges negligent actions of the academy that allowed for then-minor plaintiff John Doe to suffer repeated abuse by a fellow cadet several years ago, despite assurances to the victim’s mother and father that the academy would provide a safe environment for their son.

The lawsuit alleges Title IX violations, on top of negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation, and assault and battery among the nine counts listed in the official complaint.

Read more here.