photo by: Screenshot taken with permission of the Douglas County Court

Mark Gridley appears via video conference from the Douglas County Jail during a hearing on Feb. 19, 2025, in Douglas County District Court.

Updated at 12:40 p.m. Friday, March 7

A lawsuit filed against the Lawrence school district on behalf of a current student alleging that she was sexually abused by a speech pathologist at Prairie Park Elementary School claims that the district knew he had a “propensity for unwanted or abusive contact” with minors but failed to investigate prior allegations.

The lawsuit filed in Douglas County District Court alleges that the district was negligent in employing and supervising the speech pathologist, Mark Gridley, and that the negligence caused or contributed to the abuse the 6-year-old student endured.

“Prior to his hiring… the District knew, or had reason to know, Gridley engaged in acts of misconduct consistent with a dangerous propensity for unwanted or abusive contact with minor children,” the filing said.

The lawsuit does not detail what the prior allegations of misconduct were or where they happened. The suit claims that “non-negligent school district administrators and employees” had been notified of the conduct and that the district had been asked to investigate.

The lawsuit does not specify who in the district had been notified but states that the district failed to investigate further.

“…the District failed to do this, and its employee continued to act as a predator against its own students,” the filing said.

The plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages for the physical pain, suffering, and mental anguish that she allegedly suffered at the hands of Gridley, 61. The plaintiff in the lawsuit is listed as “Daughter Doe” to protect the child’s identity.

“Our clients are experiencing every parent’s worst nightmare when they drop their kids off at school,” Reed Martens, the family’s attorney, said in a news release. “The parents are seeking justice for their daughter in hopes that something like this will never happen.”

Gridley, who is being held at the Douglas County Jail on a $1.5 million bond, is accused of sexually abusing at least eight victims, ages six to 11, throughout the span of two days in February. Gridley was charged with multiple counts, including aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14 years old and kidnapping. Gridley is next scheduled to appear in court on March 26 for a status conference.

In response to the allegations, the school district terminated Gridley’s employment. Superintendent Jeanice Swift has announced a comprehensive review of safety protocols across all school buildings.

School district spokeswoman Julie Boyle declined to comment.

“We are unable to comment on legal action,” she said.