This post was updated Sept. 28 at 9:18 p.m.
Editor’s note: This article contains mentions of child sexual abuse that may be disturbing to some readers.
A law firm representing an additional victim of Christopher Rodriguez – a former teacher at the UCLA Krieger Child Care Center who was convicted on multiple counts of child sexual abuse in April – has filed a lawsuit against the UC, alleging negligence.
Rodriguez received a sentence of seven years in county jail in June and was convicted on nine charges – including sexual battery against a minor and willful cruelty to a child – in April following a December mistrial.
[Related: Former UCLA child care teacher sentenced to 7 years for child sexual abuse]
Rodriguez, who worked at UCLA Early Care and Education centers for nearly 25 years, was convicted for his abuse of children between July and December 2023. In addition to his sentence, he will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years, pay fines and comply with protective orders for the victims and UCLA’s campus through 2029.
Because Rodriguez was charged with misdemeanors, he may only have to serve half of the seven-year sentence under the Los Angeles County Jail and Sheriff’s Department’s discretion, said Danielle De Smeth, an attorney for the victims in the criminal case.
The June suit alleges that UCLA was negligent in not protecting its ECE students – who range from “younger infants” to preschool-aged students, according to the UCLA ECE website – and not providing necessary safeguards against the abuse, said Gregory Glazer, an attorney at Herman Law, which specializes in sexual abuse law. The plaintiffs also alleged that the university should have been aware of the conduct throughout hiring and supervision processes, he added.
Reggie Kumar, a UCLA spokesperson, said in an emailed statement that UCLA does not normally comment on pending litigation, but the UC is aware of the suit and has not yet been served.
“Protecting the wellbeing of children in our care is our utmost priority,” he said in the statement.
The suit is being filed on behalf of an additional victim who was not represented in the criminal case, according to a press release from the firm. Glazer said in the press release that Rodriguez’s sentencing only brings “some accountability” – and the suit intends to hold both UCLA and the UC accountable.
Glazer said the complaint alleges that Rodriguez had isolated students, taken them to restrooms alone and held them on his lap. The complaint also alleges that Rodriguez covered windows to “provide some measure of secrecy for what was occurring in the classroom,” he added.
“These kinds of actions against small children – actually, against anybody – these types of sexual abuse allegations, they’re serious, and they carry lifelong consequences,” Glazer said.
Kumar added in the statement that the ECE website has information about Rodriguez’s arrest and details the steps taken following the arrest – including that UCPD will oversee the security audits at UCLA’s ECE centers, including the Krieger Center.
All the Krieger Center’s doors have been rekeyed since Rodriguez’s arrest and security guards under the supervision of UCPD have been stationed at the center, according to the website.
A teacher at the Fernald Center – another UCLA ECE center that UCLA closed – alleged that three Krieger Center employees had been dismissed for child abuse. A spokesperson for UCLA confirmed that the employees in question were no longer employed by ECE but said the university could not comment on personnel matters.
Allegra Rineer, an attorney at Herman Law, said she hopes there will not only be claims as a result of the suit, but that UCLA and the UC will change their hiring practices going forward.
“There’s always hope that in civil litigation and in holding institutions accountable that they will make meaningful change to be sure that the people that they hire are safe and that they’re keeping all students safe,” she said.
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