Lawsuit accuses Chester School District, former teacher of failures involving alleged sexual abuse of student
CHESTER, N.J. (Morris County) – A civil lawsuit filed in Superior Court in Morris County accuses the Chester School District, its Board of Education, Black River Middle School and former teacher Lorri Ann Willis of wrongdoing related to the alleged sexual abuse of a former student.
The complaint was filed Aug. 20 by Roopinder Crowley, individually and as the mother and natural guardian of a minor identified in court documents as John Doe. The lawsuit states that the claims involve alleged sexual abuse of the child while he was a minor.
According to the complaint, Willis was a science teacher at Black River Middle School and was assigned as the student’s teacher from approximately 2023 through 2025.
The lawsuit alleges Willis used her position and classroom authority to gain the student’s trust and groom him for sexual abuse. It alleges the conduct began around 2023 and continued through 2025, when the student was approximately 11 to 14 years old, and continued after he left the school and was being homeschooled.
The civil lawsuit follows a criminal investigation involving Willis that was announced in October 2025.
At the time, Morris County authorities said the Chester Police Department received a report regarding alleged inappropriate behavior by a teacher at Black River Middle School. Investigators alleged Willis sent sexual and suggestive text messages to a 13-year-old former student between June 2024 and October 2025.
Willis, then 45 and identified as a Hackettstown resident, was charged Oct. 20, 2025, with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and one count of second-degree luring. Authorities also said at the time that Willis had been suspended from her teaching position.
The new civil complaint states that Willis has since pleaded guilty to crimes under the New Jersey statute cited in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit further alleges the school district, Board of Education and Black River Middle School knew or had reason to know about Willis’ alleged conduct but continued to employ her and permit her access to children.
The complaint alleges the defendants failed to properly supervise Willis, protect the student, implement and follow adequate policies and procedures, train employees to identify signs of sexual abuse and report known or suspected abuse to authorities.
The lawsuit includes claims under the New Jersey Child Sex Abuse Act, as well as negligence and gross negligence; negligent or grossly negligent hiring, training, retention, supervision and direction; negligent infliction of emotional distress; premises liability; respondeat superior; assault; and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The plaintiff is seeking compensatory, pecuniary and punitive damages, along with interest, attorneys’ fees, costs and other relief the court may deem appropriate. A jury trial has also been requested.
The allegations against the school district and other defendants are claims contained in a civil lawsuit and have not been established as fact by the court.
RNJ has reached out to the Chester School District for comment and will update this story if a response is received.
