DATE: Friday, November 21, 1997             TAG: 9711210643

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   50 lines

7 CIVIL SUITS SEEKING DAMAGES FOR STUDENTS LIE AHEAD FOR CRUTE

John Crute is not done with court yet. He still faces lawsuits from seven students whom he secretly videotaped.

The lawsuits seek monetary damages ranging from $850,000 to $3 million each.

Like O.J. Simpson, Crute could be held liable even though he was not convicted of a crime. In a civil case, the punishment is paying monetary damages, not serving a jail sentence.

Since Crute is not wealthy, the girls probably could get only a fraction of the damage amounts from him personally. But the lawsuits also seek damages from the Portsmouth School Board and three school officials: Superintendent Richard Trumble, former Principal Glendale Wallace and Athletic Director David Willett.

Four lawsuits are pending in Circuit Court and in Norfolk's federal court. Two are scheduled for trial in January, and the two others are not yet scheduled.

The lawsuits are similar, but vary in important details.

The first case was filed in September 1995, one month after Crute was caught. It names Crute, Trumble and Willett as defendants.

It says Trumble and Willett were negligent for not supervising Crute, not inspecting the school and discovering ``dangerous conditions,'' and not warning students ``of the risk of danger to (their) privacy.''

This student seeks $2 million from Crute and $500,000 each from Trumble and Willett. The trial is set for Jan. 28 in Circuit Court.

The second case was filed last year against Crute, Trumble, Willett, Wallace and the School Board.

It says the board, superintendent, principal and athletic director knew about Crute's actions and ``his propensity to behave inappropriately towards the students'' based on prior complaints.

This student seeks $850,000 from Crute and $500,000 from each of the others. The trial is set for Jan. 14 in Circuit Court, but it probably will be postponed.

The third lawsuit was filed in federal court in May against Crute and the School Board. Four students are plaintiffs.

This lawsuit claims violation of federal constitutional rights, including invasion of privacy, sexual harassment and unreasonable seizure. Each student seeks $3 million from Crute and $2 million from the board. No trial date is set.

The last lawsuit was filed this summer against Crute, Trumble and Willett. It is nearly identical to the first case. No trial date is set. KEYWORDS: SEX CRIME PORTSMOUTH SCHOOLS TEACHER LAWSUIT

CIVIL SUIT

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