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A former student at Red Bank Regional High School has filed a civil lawsuit alleging that she was sexually abused for years by her English teacher and that two of his family members who worked within the school district knew about the abuse and failed to report it, NJ.com reported yesterday.
The plaintiff, now in her mid-20s, claims the misconduct began when she was a 15-year-old sophomore in 2015.
According to the complaint filed in Monmouth County Superior Court, former teacher Michael Canning began grooming the student through text messages and emails while she was enrolled in his class. Although the lawsuit states the early communications were not sexual, it alleges they were designed to build trust and dependency and ultimately led to repeated sexual assaults over a two-year period while the student remained enrolled at the school.
The lawsuit describes a pattern of alleged abuse between 2015 and 2017, including sexual contact that occurred on school grounds, at Canning’s residence, and in other locations. The complaint claims Canning provided the student with alcohol and marijuana and engaged in sexual acts while other students or school staff were nearby. In some instances, the lawsuit alleges he took steps to conceal the encounters, including instructing the student to hide behind dumpsters and checking for witnesses before bringing her inside his home.
Court filings also allege Canning engaged in unprotected sexual activity with the student and instructed her to use harmful substances in an attempt to prevent pregnancy, causing her physical pain. The lawsuit states the student complied out of fear and manipulation.
The complaint further alleges that during the student’s senior year, a family member of Canning who worked for the school district discovered explicit messages between him and the student and advised him to change his phone number. That family member allegedly informed another relative employed by the district, but neither reported the conduct to school administrators or law enforcement. The lawsuit claims both individuals knew or should have known the student was being sexually abused and failed to take action.
Canning pleaded guilty in July 2023 to one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced in April 2024 to four years in prison and is currently incarcerated at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel. He is eligible for parole in January 2027, according to the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
The lawsuit names Canning, the two family members, the Red Bank Regional Board of Education, the high school, and additional unnamed parties as defendants. It alleges violations of the New Jersey Child Sex Abuse Act and claims the school and district acted as “passive abusers” by failing to prevent or stop the abuse and by being vicariously liable for Canning’s conduct.
The plaintiff alleges the abuse left her depressed and suicidal and says she ultimately reported Canning after learning he had inappropriate relationships with other female students. School district officials declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing ongoing litigation.
Sexual Abuse in Schools or Youth Institutions
Sexual abuse in schools, treatment programs, and other institutions often involves failures by multiple adults who were in positions of trust. To learn more about institutional sexual abuse lawsuits and the legal options available to survivors, visit our Institutional Sexual Abuse Lawsuits page. If you are ready to explore your options, you can request a free, confidential case review by completing the secure form below.
