Criminal case against Notre Dame Academy science teacher Danielle Johnsen still pending Watch video
Danielle Johnsen is led into Stapleton Criminal Court after her arrest on June 16, 2011.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A student of a Staten Island Catholic all-girls high school has sued the school and the Archdiocese of New York alleging a female teacher seduced and sexually abused her off-campus last year.
The girl, now 17, alleges the incidents occurred while she was a sophomore at Notre Dame Academy, Grymes Hill, and involved her science teacher, Danielle Johnsen. The student, then 16, still attends the school.
Prosecutors last year criminally charged Ms. Johnsen, then 29, with three misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one misdemeanor count of sexual abuse. That case is pending in Stapleton Criminal Court.
The girl, whose full name is not divulged in court papers, has also sued Ms. Johnsen. The civil action, brought in state Supreme Court, St. George, seeks unspecified monetary damages.
The girl and her father allege she suffered "severe depression, emotional shock and acute anxiety" and continues to be plagued by those conditions.
According to court documents, Ms. Johnsen "repeatedly" kissed the girl on the lips and touched her inappropriately beneath her clothing. The touching incident took place March 13 of last year while the girl and Ms. Johnsen were watching a movie in the teacher's Port Richmond home, according to prosecutors.
The civil lawsuit also alleges Ms. Johnsen went to the girls home "on several occasions" between Feb. 16 and June 3 of last year to seduce her.
Ms. Johnsen "repeatedly" told the teen, "I love you," and texted her "vulgar and sexually seductive and suggestive messages" along with "provocative and nude-picture messages" on "numerous occasions," allege court papers.
In the criminal case, prosecutors contend Ms. Johnsen, on Feb. 16 and March 2, of last year kissed the girl on the lips while the two were together.
The suspect could face up to a year in jail if convicted of the endangering charge, which is the top count against her, a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan said.
Ms. Johnsen's criminal defense lawyer, Leo Duval, said he hasn't seen the civil lawsuit papers but suspects the action is financially motivated.
"I've always been suspicious of the motivations of these people, and this reinforces it," he said today. "As far as I'm concerned, the entire case is baseless. It's got absolutely no merit. The Criminal Court pleadings and related paperwork are riddled with inconsistencies, specifically when it comes to times, dates, and places. Danielle Johnsen denies the allegations in whatever court you put her in."
The teen's lawyer, Jonathan D'Agostino of Eltingville, declined comment on the civil filings.
Sister Patricia Corley, Notre Dame's president, said today that Ms. Johnsen was placed on administrative leave after the allegations came to light on June 6. She remains on leave and is prohibited from entering the school or contacting any student.
"We are deeply saddened to learn that a lawsuit was filed alleging that one of our lay staff members engaged in an inappropriate relationship with one of the students," Sister Patricia said in a statement. "The abuse of any child is an affront to our mission and purpose, and we do not and will not tolerate such abuse.... the safety, security and protection of the young women entrusted to the school's care is of paramount importance. Our prayers go out to all involved in this matter."
An archdiocese spokeswoman could not immediately be reached today for comment.
According to a source, some of the girl's friends alerted a guidance counselor on June 6 that the teen had become distraught after Ms. Johnsen ended their relationship. Court papers say the girl had put a "disturbing post" on the Internet.
Sister Patricia said administrators immediately notified authorities, and the school cooperated fully with their probe.
In a letter dated June 8, students' parents were advised that the school two days earlier had "suspicions of an inappropriate relationship" involving a high-school teacher and student.