Harvard-Westlake Lawsuit: Ex-Player Claims Years of Assault and Racism

Lawsuit Filed Against Harvard-Westlake School

An 18-year-old former water polo player, Aidan Romain, has filed a lawsuit against Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City. He alleges he faced sexual assault and racial harassment while on the team.

Romain claims these incidents occurred frequently during practices and team activities over several years. The lawsuit highlights what Romain describes as a culture of violence and humiliation facilitated by the school’s staff.

Allegations in the Complaint

The lawsuit names multiple parties, including the school, its president, Romain’s former coach, and a former teammate named Lucca Van Der Woude. The complaint details alleged racial slurs and physical assaults directed at Romain.

His attorney, Daniel Watkins, states that incidents included Romain being called racial slurs and facing assaults both in training sessions and outside of them. The legal team argues that the school failed in its duty to protect students.

School's Response to Allegations

Harvard-Westlake School released a statement disputing many of the claims made in the lawsuit. They assert that they took allegations seriously and conducted investigations when concerns were raised.

The school's attorney clarified that there was no report of sexual assault from Romain's family during their time at the school. The legal case remains active as it proceeds through the court system.