Christensen v. Royal School District No. 160
Supreme Court of Washington
17 P.3d 1214 (Wash. 2001)
A teacher employed by the school district (defendant) engaged in a sexual relationship with thirteen-year-old student Christensen (plaintiff), who sued the district for negligent hiring and supervision; the district argued Christensen voluntarily participated in the misconduct and should be found contributorily negligent, prompting the trial court to certify the question of whether a minor student can be held contributorily negligent for engaging in sexual misconduct with a teacher.
Whether a minor student has a legal duty to protect herself from sexual abuse by a school teacher, such that her participation in the abuse could support a contributory negligence defense in her negligence suit against the school district.