Mercer Island School District settles abuse claim for $1.5M

This story was originally published by the Mercer Island Reporter.

Mercer Island School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle announced at a recent school board meeting that the $13.4 million sex abuse tort claim filed against the district has been resolved.

According to an InvestigateWest story in March 2026, a former Mercer Island High School (MIHS) student filed the claim against the district on Feb. 3 of this year. The student alleged that administrators failed to intervene and protect her from being targeted, groomed and sexually abused by longtime MIHS English instructor Curtis Johnston about 15 years ago. He is no longer with the district.

Reading from a statement during his superintendent’s report at the Oct. 8 meeting, Rundle said the parties agreed to a final settlement of $1.5 million through a pre-litigation process. The full settlement amount was paid on behalf of the district by the Washington Schools Risk Management Pool — which is the district’s major insurance carrier — as part of its membership. There were no direct contributions by the district from its current operating budget, he added.

“The district determined that resolving this matter before litigation was in the best interest and provides finality for everyone involved, and the settlement was reached without an admission of liability,” Rundle said of the claim, which was filed on behalf of the former student by the Seattle-based law firm Hagens Berman.

About three months following the filing, concerned MIHS student Inaya Chandrakant asked Rundle about the status of the claim during a Community Conversation at the MIHS Performing Arts Center, according to a previous Reporter story. An attendee loudly clapped in favor of the question.

Also at the forum, Rundle and school board President Stephanie Burnett heard that some parents are troubled about how the district handled the multiple incidents of alleged and confirmed cases of sexual assault, the Reporter story noted. A sense of security, trust and transparency needs to be conveyed, said parent Heidi Baxter.

Rundle said at that juncture, the district had met all of its obligations in the tort process by responding to the former student’s attorneys within the state law-required 60 days.

At the Oct. 8 meeting, Rundle said, “While the matter dates back roughly 15 years, this is not and will not deter us from our commitment to student safety each and every day. We are steadfast in what we can control, and that is the culture and environment in each of our six schools. We value safe and supportive learning spaces.”

In the InvestigativeWest story, Jake Berman — the former student’s lawyer with Hagens Berman — wrote, in part, in a statement: “Mercer Island High School had a duty to protect students like our client from harm — grooming, abuse and manipulation.” Berman supplied a statement to the Reporter on Oct. 21 that reads: “Hagens Berman strives to provide legal care to persons who are victimized and will continue to hold those responsible accountable to support survivors. Sexual victimization, especially during one’s youth, can have a lasting negative impact.”

Rundle informed attendees at the forum that the district has formed the Student Safety and Well-Being Committee and partnered with Praesidium — a nationwide abuse-prevention and intervention firm.

The superintendent added at the Oct. 8 meeting that the district’s mantra is that “we’re all on duty.” He said the district consists of a well-trained staff that recognizes and reports concerns immediately, administrators who respond swiftly to reports and disclosures, and collaborates and has open communication with Mercer Island Youth and Family Services, Mercer Island Police Department, Child Protective Services and other partners.