Ex-Sumner High coach created a ‘sexually harassing atmosphere,’ new lawsuit says
Editor’s note: This story contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault.
Two former high school basketball players are suing the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District, alleging that the district failed to protect them from grooming, sexual harassment and sexual abuse by a former Sumner High School varsity boys’ basketball coach.
The Cochran Douglas law firm represents the two former basketball players. They filed the lawsuit March 29 in Pierce County Superior Court.
Jacob “Jake” Jackson coached at Sumner High School from 2016-22. He resigned in September 2022.
Prosecutors charged Jackson in April 2023 with third-degree child rape, indecent exposure, first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, two counts of third-degree child molestation and five counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes.
Jackson appeared in court in May 2023. During the arraignment a not-guilty plea was entered on Jackson’s behalf. The court set Jackson’s bail at $25,000.
Jackson was released on bail and awaits trial for his criminal charges.
Attorney Brett Purtzer from the Hester Law Group represents Jackson. When asked about the new lawsuit, he said that it is specifically against the school district. Jackson is not named as a defendant.
The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District did not respond to The News Tribune’s requests for comment.
The district previously said in a statement: “We support those who are struggling, and remain concerned for anyone in our community who is experiencing harm related to this situation. SBLSD is here to provide safe spaces and shared resources to help all of those affected.”
There are various pending lawsuits against the school district, Jackson and Sterling Athletics, a sporting goods company where Jackson was CEO.
This is the second lawsuit that names only the school district. The other was filed by the Cochran Douglas law firm in August on behalf of multiple families.
Two other lawsuits the firm filed in October 2022 and February 2023 name Jackson and Inspirit Athletics, which does business as Sterling Athletics. The October 2022 lawsuit alleges that Jackson sexually abused and harassed a boy he coached. The February 2023 lawsuit alleges Jackson sexually abused and harassed a boy he met at a Sumner Basketball Academy event.
Attorney Loren Cochran, who is representing the plaintiffs, wrote in an email that those lawsuits are still pending.
A fifth lawsuit filed on behalf of one of the families by a different law firm, Evergreen Personal Injury Counsel, names Jackson, Inspirit Athletics and the school district.
Allegations in the latest lawsuit against the school district
The lawsuit filed against the school district March 29 gives this account of what happened:
The school district and Sterling Athletics, Jackson’s sporting goods corporation, had a “business relationship,” according to the lawsuit.
The two former basketball players identified in the lawsuit were minors when the sexual abuse and harassment allegedly happened.
They met Jackson around the summer of 2016 at a Sumner Basketball Academy game. Jackson allegedly texted them afterward, and he invited them to Sumner High’s gym practices and summer camp.
The lawsuit alleges that Jackson gifted one limited-edition sneakers and Nike gear, among other things.
In fall 2016, they started their freshman year at Sumner High. One made the junior varsity basketball team and the other made the varsity basketball team. The teams practiced together throughout the season.
Jackson allegedly created a “sexually harassing atmosphere” early in the season to manipulate players on the teams. He would call players inappropriate names and make sexual comments.
Jackson allegedly controlled students. If one of the former players identified in the lawsuit did not check in with Jackson each afternoon to ask about his day, Jackson would allegedly berate him in front of the team for simple mistakes.
The lawsuit alleges that Jackson forced players to shower after practice and games. If a student tried to shower with their underwear on, Jackson would allegedly ridicule and demean them.
Jackson would also allegedly instruct his team to distract opposing teams by grabbing players’ genitals or swiping players’ backsides.
Jackson would allegedly remove players from the team if they did not comply with his requests or if they did not participate in the “hypersexualized” environment he was fostering, the lawsuit said.
Jackson would also instruct players on the team not to speak to or associate themselves with those who were removed from the team, according to the lawsuit. That is what happened to one of the former players identified in the lawsuit.
On or around March 2018, a school district employee allegedly noted concerns about Jackson. The lawsuit lists concerns such as “mind games,” “manipulation,” and “inconsistent amongst players.”
The school district did not follow up on the district employee’s concerns, according to the lawsuit, and did not investigate Jackson’s contact with student athletes at Sumner High or the Sumner Basketball Academy.
The lawsuit alleges that the school district has a policy prohibiting staff from engaging with students “in any conduct … that violates the law, district regulations or procedures, or other generally recognized professional standards” on social networking platforms.
A school district policy instructs school staff and volunteers to promptly notify a supervisor if and when an employee is suspected of boundary invasion, according to the lawsuit.
The two former players identified in the lawsuit suffered and continue to suffer “extreme emotional distress, personal anguish, fear, humiliation, pain and suffering,” according to the lawsuit.
