April 4, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Marlborough School Student-Teacher Sex Allegation Case Allows Psych. Records

The Marlborough SchoolA judge ruled today that defense attorneys can review the psychiatric records of a young woman who alleges a former English teacher at a Hancock Park all-girls school sexually abused and impregnated her when she was a student.

The plaintiff, who is now in her 30s, alleges in her lawsuit that Joseph Koetters had a relationship with her at Marlborough School from 2000-02 beginning when she was 16 years old.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard Rico, noting the woman’s allegations include intentional infliction of emotional distress, denied a motion by the plaintiff’s attorneys to quash the subpoena served on Dr. Joanne Seltzer. Selzer treated the woman from 2009-11 and for a single visit in 2014.

“The court finds that plaintiff necessarily places her mental and emotional state at issue, permitting disclosure of Dr. Seltzer’s records,” Rico wrote in his 1 1/2-page ruling.

Rico rejected the plaintiff’s claims that limits should be placed on what Seltzer is required to release and that the privacy rights of third parties identified in the records could be invaded.

“Overbroadness arguments are unpersuasive,” Rico wrote.

The woman’s attorneys state in their court papers that she did not realize the psychological harm Koetters caused her until 2014 when she read an online essay written by another female who claimed she also was sexually harassed by the teacher.

The lawsuit, filed in April 2014, alleges school officials knew of past allegations of sexual misconduct by Koetters, but failed to investigate them.

Koetters was arrested in February 2015. The 48-year-old Santa Monica resident was sentenced to a year in county jail in October on charges that he engaged in sex acts with two 16-year-old girls more than a decade ago, including the plaintiff.

The plaintiff says Koetters impregnated her in 2002 and that she later had a miscarriage.

Related Posts

Join UCLA’s Innovative Memory Research Study!

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Are you ready to contribute to groundbreaking research and help shape the future of memory treatments? Do you sometimes find...

Coming Soon: Easter Extravaganza at Regent Santa Monica Beach

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Book your Delectable Brunch, Easter Festivities This Easter, step into a world of celebration and refined delight at Regent Santa Monica Beach....

Scoop Dreams Come True: Van Leeuwen Launches New Beverly Hills Shop

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Van Leeuwen’s Beverly Hills Opening Comes With Sweet Perks Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, a New York City-born brand celebrated for...

WeHo’s WeHappy Wednesdays Serve Up Big Discounts In Addition to Zero Parking Fees

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Free Parking and $5 Cocktails? WeHo Makes Wednesdays Worth It The City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Chamber...

Saijo Hand Roll Rolls into Culver City with Premium Japanese Ingredients

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Binchotan-Fired Perfection: Saijo Rolls Out Premium Sushi in West LA A new destination for hand rolls and Japanese culinary craftsmanship...

(Video) Check Out Bernie’s, a New Pop Up at Citizen Public Market in Culver City

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Made with fresh frozen fruit and a toasted merengue topping these flavors are irresistible. The pop up will be at...

From Cocktails to Coffee: U.S. Tariffs Threaten Imports, Jobs, and Your Grocery Bill

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Major Price Hikes Expected for Coffee, Wine, Chocolate, and Butter  A sweeping new set of tariffs announced by former President...

Levain Bakery to Open Venice Location with Special Guests and Charitable Twist

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Bigger Than a Cookie: Levain’s Venice Opening Is a Flavorful Fundraiser Levain Bakery, the cult-favorite cookie destination founded in New...

LAX Airport Server Finds Hate-Filled Message From Unidentified Diners

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Waiter Says He Was Stunned by the Message Left by Customers Guillermo Ortiz, who works at Planet Hollywood inside the...

Sunset Strip Staple Le Petit Four Shuts Down After Landlord Pulls the Plug

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

End of an Era: Le Petit Four Forced to Close in West Hollywood In a stunning reversal to the upbeat...

Metro LA Pushes Back Sepulveda Transit Community Meetings

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Environmental Review Delay Prompts Metro to Reschedule  Metro announced that community meetings scheduled for early April to discuss the Sepulveda...

County Board Approves New Homeless Agency, Redirecting Millions from Existing System

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

With Billions on the Line, LA County Moves to Centralize Homeless Response Los Angeles County is making a dramatic shift...

Put the Phone Down: LAPD and CHP Targets Distracted Drivers in April Crackdown

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Hands-Free Law Violations Could Now Cost You More Than Just a Fine Throughout April, the Los Angeles Police Department will...

Five Arrested in Culver City After Attempted Carjacking and Vandalism Incident

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Gun, Warrants, and Broken Glass: Culver City Police Tackle Two Crimes Police arrested four juveniles in connection with an attempted...

Kim Delaney, Partner Cleared After Weekend Arrest in Marina del Rey

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Emmy-Winning Actress and Partner James Morgan Released Kim Delaney, the Emmy-winning actress recognized for her roles in NYPD Blue and...