Two ex-Gorman students file lawsuits

Kim Smith

Friday, April 21, 2000 | 10:51 a.m.

Two former Bishop Gorman High School students who were romantically involved with a teacher in 1996 and 1997 have filed lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas and the school.

According to the lawsuits, filed Thursday in District Court, church officials did not conduct a reasonable background check on Jack David Patton, 28, hired him despite knowing he was not formally trained to teach religion and failed to properly supervise him.

Patton was arrested in December 1997 on 13 felony counts of having sexual relations with students. He pleaded guilty to one count in March 1998 and was given probation in January 1999.

Patton is named in one of the suits, but not the other. Both lawsuits also name the Clerics of Saint Viator -- the religious order that operated the school at the time -- and the bishop of Las Vegas and his predecessors. The bishop was not named.

The diocese did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The lawsuits claim that Patton "initiated, fostered and promoted inappropriate contact" with several students, including supplying alcohol to one girl so he could take advantage of her sexually.

Patton also coerced his students to "write about their sexual experiences and desires in diaries that he would then collect, read and keep," the lawsuit states.

Patton's inappropriate conduct was "open, obvious and notorious," but in each of the cases the girls were ostracized at school because of the actions of school and church officials, according to the suit.

The girls, who are now 19, are suing on the grounds of negligence, breach of contract and misrepresentation.

The suit states that school officials promised the students' parents, who paid tuition, they would be "educated in an atmosphere of Christian faith and freedom and Christian values would be instilled, promoted and nurtured."

The former student who named Patton in her lawsuit is suing him for sexual assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Kim Smith covers courts for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2321 or by e-mail at kimberly@lasvegassun.com