Castilleja School in Palo Alto has agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by three anonymous former students who say they were sexually abused by a longtime tutor. The settlement, announced this week, resolves claims that the tutor targeted girls during private tutoring sessions between roughly 2007 and 2016. Criminal proceedings against the tutor are still active in Santa Clara County.
According to Palo Alto Online, the complaint was filed in February 2025 and accused the school of failing to protect students who met the tutor both on campus and at his home. Castilleja spokesperson Emily McElhinney told the outlet the school is proud of the young women who had the courage to come forward and is committed to student safety. The outlet also reported that the school did not admit liability under the agreement.
Tutor faces criminal charges
In the parallel criminal case, local reporting identifies the tutor as Mark Allan Hodes, who was arrested in 2020 and later charged with dozens of felonies alleging lewd acts with minors. Mountain View Voice has reported that Hodes faces roughly 55 felony counts and that a 2022 preliminary hearing found sufficient evidence to move the case toward trial.
What the civil complaint says
As detailed by Palo Alto Online, the plaintiffs allege Hodes assaulted as many as 17 students during tutoring sessions and that school officials at times responded by relocating him to different spots on campus rather than taking stronger action. Plaintiff attorney Mary Alexander told the outlet that 14 other former students have come forward in the criminal case and deserve support and resolution, while attorney Lauren Cerri said the school was aware of misconduct yet failed to take meaningful steps. One plaintiff, identified in court papers as Jane Doe Three, said the settlement "reflects accountability" and expressed hope that it will lead to improved safeguards for students.
Legal context and statewide trend
The settlement lands in the middle of a statewide shift that has expanded survivors' ability to sue and pushed schools toward tougher reporting and training rules, creating new pressure on both districts and private institutions. Reporting by KPBS/CalMatters notes that laws such as AB 218 and SB 848 have widened the window for civil claims and created new state requirements aimed at preventing school employee misconduct. Those changes have contributed to larger settlements and rising insurance costs that schools say are straining already tight budgets.
What is next for the criminal case and the school
The civil deal resolves the claims of the three named plaintiffs but does not affect the criminal prosecution, which remains active in Santa Clara County and could still generate additional filings or testimony. Local coverage has documented multiple preliminary hearings and victim testimony in the criminal case, and prosecutors say more survivors have come forward as the investigation has continued. Mountain View Voice has previously reported on court proceedings that advanced the case after judges found sufficient evidence at preliminary hearings.
Castilleja has said it will continue to prioritize student safety while community members, former students, and legal observers watch to see how both the criminal and civil matters ultimately play out. The settlement, coupled with the ongoing prosecution, keeps a spotlight on how schools recognize and respond to allegations of abuse.
