Four former Oswego High School students are taking their old school district to court, accusing a onetime teacher and coach of years of grooming, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct while, they say, district leaders looked the other way. The civil lawsuit, filed Wednesday against Oswego Community Unit School District 308 and a former staff member, claims the district brushed off repeated red flags and missed multiple chances to intervene. The women allege the conduct included sexually explicit messages, inappropriate touching and sexually explicit language directed at female students, and they are seeking both monetary damages and policy changes meant to prevent future abuse.
Complaint Filed In Kendall County
The case landed Wednesday in the Circuit Court of Kendall County, where attorneys with Disparti Law Group filed the complaint on behalf of Kala Sundstrom, Anne Marie Fish, Natalie Grimm and Jillian Lake. Their filing names former Oswego High School teacher and coach Sean Staffeldt and describes what it calls a years-long pattern of grooming, boundary violations and sexual misconduct. According to the law firm, the district was alerted to concerns as early as 2015 but did not conduct a meaningful investigation or take effective action.
Allegations And Timeline Laid Out
The complaint, as summarized by local outlets, says a district staff member first raised concerns in 2015. In 2017, according to the filing, Staffeldt received a written warning instructing him not to hug or otherwise touch students. Attorneys say the suit describes additional incidents through 2020, including an alleged attempt to kiss a 17-year-old senior after a football game in November 2019 and subsequent investigations in early 2020. These events, and the district’s alleged failure to act, have been reported by CBS News Chicago and local reporting from Patch.
Plaintiffs' Requests And Impact
Speaking at a downtown news conference, the four women described long-term emotional fallout from their experiences and said they want more than a check from the district. Along with financial compensation, they are asking the court to order reforms that include mandatory staff training and trauma-informed response practices. Their legal team argues that students who reported concerns were sometimes isolated or pressured to switch classes while the district handled complaints, a response the plaintiffs say only deepened the harm. A detailed statement outlining their claims and policy demands has been released by Disparti Law Group.
District History And Broader Context
The lawsuit arrives against a backdrop of prior misconduct cases in Oswego Community Unit School District 308. In recent years the district has faced other lawsuits and settlements involving staff behavior, including a roughly $913,500 settlement tied to allegations at Oswego East High School that the school board approved in 2024. That track record has fueled calls from the new plaintiffs and advocates for clearer reporting procedures and stronger, more independent oversight. The earlier settlement and related reporting were detailed by local outlet Shaw Local.
What Happens Next
As of Wednesday, when the complaint was filed, District 308 officials said the district had not yet been formally served and indicated it would review any legal paperwork if and when it arrives. Staffeldt has not been criminally charged and has disputed the allegations, telling a reporter, "No, that's wrong," when contacted about the suit, according to coverage referencing the plaintiffs' news conference. The case now moves into the Kendall County court system, where the defendants may file responses, motions or requests to shift how and where the matter is heard as litigation unfolds. The four former students say they hope the lawsuit not only compensates those who came forward but also forces district-level changes aimed at better protecting Oswego students in the years ahead.
