⚖️ CHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT SUED AFTER FORMER TEACHER’S SEXUAL ABUSE OF STUDENT
A mother is suing the Chester School District after a former middle school teacher was imprisoned for sexually abusing a student. The lawsuit claims school officials were negligent and failed to protect the child from the teacher’s grooming and inappropriate conduct.
📍 CHESTER, NJ — The mother of a former Chester middle school student has filed a lawsuit against the Chester School District and other parties, alleging the district failed to protect her child from sexual abuse by a former teacher.
The lawsuit stems from the arrest and conviction of Lorri A. Willis, a former science teacher at Black River Middle School.
🚨 TEACHER ARRESTED IN 2025
According to authorities, Willis was arrested on October 20, 2025, following an investigation into inappropriate communications with a 13-year-old student.
Police said Willis sent the student multiple sexual and suggestive text messages between June 2024 and October 2025.
The newly filed lawsuit alleges the inappropriate conduct and grooming behavior began even earlier and continued over a longer period, when the student was between 11 and 14 years old.
The lawsuit claims some of the alleged conduct occurred while the child attended Black River Middle School and while the student was being homeschooled.
⚖️ FORMER TEACHER SENTENCED
Willis, 45, of Hackettstown, was initially charged with luring and endangering the welfare of a child. Court records indicate the luring charge was later dismissed.
She pleaded guilty in December 2025 and was sentenced in March 2026 to three years in state prison.
Following her release, Willis will be subject to lifetime parole supervision, prohibited from having contact with the victim and permanently barred from teaching in New Jersey.
School officials previously announced that Willis had been released from all duties following her arrest. She also surrendered her teaching certificates.
🏫 LAWSUIT TARGETS SCHOOL DISTRICT
The victim’s mother is now suing the Chester School District, Board of Education, Black River Middle School and Willis.
The lawsuit alleges school officials should have known Willis posed a danger to children and claims the district failed in its responsibility to provide students with a safe environment.
The complaint includes allegations of negligence against the school district and its related entities, while Willis is accused of assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
💰 DAMAGES SOUGHT
The student’s mother is seeking compensatory, pecuniary and punitive damages, as well as legal costs and attorney fees.
The allegations contained in the lawsuit are claims that have not been proven in court. The defendants are entitled to respond through the legal process.
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