Kissing Club Allegations at Los Angeles Private School Lead to Bullying and Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Image: Sierra Canyon School screenshot from sierracanyonschool.org

The parents of an eight-year-old girl have filed a lawsuit against Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, alleging that the school failed to protect their daughter from bullying and sexual assault carried out by older students who created what they called a “Kissing Club,” the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday. According to the complaint, the child was seven when the alleged conduct began and is no longer enrolled at the school.

Her mother said in a statement that she came forward to prevent other families from experiencing similar harm. She explained that attending a prestigious private school does not guarantee safety and emphasized the need for transparency and accountability.

The lawsuit alleges that older students routinely bullied younger girls by name-calling, peeking into bathroom stalls, and pressuring them to participate in sexual acts. Several 7- and 8-year-old girls reportedly gathered in school bathrooms during school hours as part of the Kissing Club. According to the filing, two 8-year-old girls intimidated younger students into joining and pressured them to kiss one another. The complaint also alleges that the young victim was forced to kiss and touch the genital areas of the older girls.

During an internal review, the lawsuit states that school personnel discovered that some of the incidents had been recorded on the girls’ phones. A teacher allegedly confiscated one student’s phone, sent the video files to herself, and showed them to other staff members.

The child’s mother reported earlier bullying concerns to Sierra Canyon School and asked staff to monitor her daughter more closely, including supervising the bathrooms. According to the filing, no meaningful protections were put in place and the bullying continued.

The lawsuit claims that Sierra Canyon School eventually became aware of the Kissing Club and its activities but did not notify the child’s parents or law enforcement. The parents state they did not learn of the assaults until another parent informed them that their own child had been harmed by the same students.

The family is suing for damages and attorney fees and alleges the school failed to meet its mandatory reporting obligations under California law, which requires educators to alert authorities when they suspect child abuse.

Sierra Canyon School released a statement saying the allegations are untrue and do not reflect what occurred. The school stated that it reviewed concerns in summer 2024 and took what it described as appropriate measures and reaffirmed its position that student protection remains central to its mission.