A former Palm Beach County student is suing the School District of Palm Beach County and a teacher from Watson B. Duncan Middle School, alleging years of grooming and sexual abuse while she was a minor. The civil complaint seeks damages and accuses district officials of ignoring or failing to investigate warning signs that allegedly allowed the abuse to continue, even after concerns surfaced and before the teacher’s arrest on multiple sex-abuse charges last year.
The lawsuit, filed in the 15th Judicial Circuit, names former Duncan Middle School math teacher Christopher Withers and the School District of Palm Beach County as defendants. It brings negligence claims, alleges violations of Title IX and raises constitutional issues, according to a press release from Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, the firm representing the plaintiff.
Withers was arrested on March 31, 2025, and is facing multiple counts of lewd and lascivious behavior and related sex-offense charges, according to court records. Local10 reported that he faces 17 counts, and police say the victim told investigators the sexual contact started when she was 13. In a police-recorded phone call described by WPBF, Withers apologized and told her, “In my opinion, we had a beautiful relationship that I ruined.”
The School District of Palm Beach County has declined to discuss the lawsuit publicly, telling WPTV it is “unable to comment on pending litigation.” Families at Watson B. Duncan Middle School were notified by the principal that Withers will not return to campus while the district conducts an internal review.
What the Complaint Alleges
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a plaintiff identified as “Jane Doe,” accuses the district of failing to stop or properly investigate alleged misconduct and seeks not only monetary damages but broader systemic changes. The firm’s press release says “the allegations describe conduct that occurred openly, repeatedly, and over an extended period of time,” according to Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath.
Criminal and Civil Cases Will Proceed Separately
The civil complaint was filed on January 21, 2026, and publicly announced afterward. The case moves forward on a separate track from Withers’ ongoing criminal prosecution in local court, so developments in one case will not automatically dictate what happens in the other. The filing notice was carried by Newswire, while local outlets continue to follow the criminal investigation.
How Parents and Community Members Can Follow the Case
School officials have urged anyone with information to contact School Police; WPTV reports that the district has designated School Police as the point of contact. The School District of Palm Beach County’s website lists central phone numbers, safety resources, and reporting tools for families who want to raise concerns or track official updates as the legal cases move ahead.
