Lawsuit accuses former Springfield middle school teacher of ‘grooming’ seventh

Jul 21, 2023

A former substitute teacher at John J. Duggan Middle Academy is accused in a lawsuit of sexually "grooming" a former seventh-grade student. (Stephanie Barry / The Republican / MassLive)

SPRINGFIELD — A former middle school teacher has been named in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a 15-year-old girl who says the teacher inappropriately touched her when she was a seventh-grade student at John J. Duggan Academy.

The complaint has a $500,000 demand attached to it.

A lawsuit recently filed in Hampden Superior Court names the city and David Ramos, of Enfield, Connecticut. The complaint was filed by Jane Doe, the mother of Susie Doe. The courts typically allow alleged victims of sexual misconduct to use pseudonyms, particularly when they are minors.

The complaint says Ramos routinely approached students with “side hugs” in his classrooms while he was a substitute teacher in 2021 and 2022 at the Sixteen Acres neighborhood middle school. Susie Doe attended as a seventh- and eighth-grader, according to the lawsuit.

“Defendant, David Ramos, continued to inappropriately and sexually touch students including Susie Doe, attempting to disguise them as hugs,” the complaint reads.

The lawsuit alleges Ramos then began hugging her from behind.

“During this inappropriate and unwanted sexual touching, Susie Doe could feel Defendant, David Ramos’ erect penis,” the complaint filed by Springfield attorney Laura Mangini says.

Ramos could not be reached for comment. It is unclear whether he has a lawyer. The alleged incident was reported to the Springfield police.

The lawsuit also said Ramos, 36, massaged Doe’s shoulders in front of other students. She initially resisted reporting the alleged behavior for fear of retribution, according to Mangini.

“Susie Doe felt uncomfortable with the inappropriate, sexual touching ... but was afraid to say anything for fear she would get in trouble,” the complaint says.

Ramos also allegedly called Doe a “princess” and told her he loved her and wished she was his daughter, according to the lawsuit. In March 2022, Doe discussed the alleged pattern with her student support teacher, who encouraged her to speak with an administrator at the school.

“Instead of investigating the allegations, (the administrator) sent Susie Doe back to class. When Susie returned to her seat in class (the defendant) approached her from behind and began massaging her shoulders and arms. Susie froze and did not know what to do,” the lawsuit reads.

Ramos allegedly stopped massaging her when another teacher entered the class and “caught Ramos in the act,” the complaint adds.

The teacher, identified as “Mr. Hurley,” brought Doe back to the principal’s office for a subsequent meeting, according to the lawsuit. The school did not report the incident to the state Department of Children and Families, as it was required to do, according to Mangini.

“Ramos was given a written warning about his boundary violations with students,” the complaint says.

Two weeks later, Ramos no longer remained on staff there, the lawsuit says.

When she entered ninth grade at Springfield Central High School, she discovered Ramos had been hired as a wrestling coach there, according to the complaint. Doe began to feel suicidal and began cutting herself with a razor, it adds.

A spokeswoman for the Springfield school district said Ramos was on staff at Duggan for three years but was not employed by Central High School.

“David Ramos was employed at Duggan Academy from August 2019 until March 2022. He is not now, nor has he ever been employed at Central High School. The district declines further comment,” said Azell Murphy-Cavaan.

A Zoominfo web page lists Ramos as being a wrestling coach at the high school, however. It is unclear whether that is a former or current title.

DCF eventually conducted its own investigation and supported allegations of sexual abuse and neglect, Mangini wrote in the lawsuit, finding that “unwanted hugs and massages were sexual contact between caretaker and a child.”

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