News Release: Shattuck-St. Mary’s Named in Third Civil Lawsuit

By Josh Peck May 13, 2014

Third Civil Suit Filed Against Shattuck-St. Mary’s 

Further Investigation Reveals the Elite Private School Knew of Teacher and Dorm Parent Lynn Seibel’s Inappropriate Behavior With Boys in 1999–2000 School Year

(Faribault, MN) – Today in Rice County District Court a sexual abuse survivor, Doe AB, and his attorneys filed a civil lawsuit alleging Shattuck-St. Mary’s, an elite private school in Faribault, MN, knew of Lynn Seibel’s sexually inappropriate behavior with male students but failed to take action. Doe AB was sexually abused from 2000-2001 while he was a student at the prestigious prep school.

“Lynn Seibel was a cunning and powerful figure in the school,” said Doe AB’s attorney Jeff Anderson. “Seibel cajoled, confused and coerced students and student-athletes to serve his own perverse needs. The school administration put their reputations over the needs and safety of the students.”

Further investigation and new evidence turned over in another ongoing lawsuit involving Shattuck-St. Mary’s, revealed that the school received a report to one of its teachers during the 1999-2000 school year about Seibel’s sexual misconduct with students. The school’s headmaster received reports in 2000 and 2001. No action was taken by the school after receiving these reports and Seibel was allowed continued access to children, including Doe AB.

“Shattuck-St. Mary’s is a special place to me and I loved my time spent at the school,” stated Doe AB. “It’s difficult to comprehend that the school betrayed my trust and that of my parents. Because the school is so important to me,  I’m bringing this lawsuit to make sure Shattuck-St. Mary’s is doing everything that it can to protect students and make sure what happened to me never happens to another student.”

After child pornography was found on Seibel’s computer in 2003, the actor-teacher was allowed to resign from the school and no reports were made to law enforcement. Instead, Shattuck-St. Mary’s consulted their attorneys and decided the pornography didn’t warrant a report to authorities.

An investigation was eventually opened in 2012 when reports of sexual abuse were made to Olmsted County officials. Multiple survivors have already come forward alleging abuse by Seibel during his 11-year career with the school. Seibel was sentenced on October 4, 2013, to a 52-month prison term after he pled guilty in July 2013 to sexually abusing six male students at Shattuck-St. Mary’s.

The complaint can be found on our website under “Case Resources” at andersonadvocates.com.