Country Day Sues in Headmaster’s Hiring

Trustees for the elite La Jolla Country Day School have filed suit against a private school in Milwaukee, alleging that it failed to disclose allegations of sexual harassment against its former headmaster when the La Jolla school was hiring him.

Officials for Country Day confirmed Thursday that a lawsuit was filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on April 16.

The suit charges the University School of Milwaukee with failing to disclose fully the employment record of Country Day Headmaster John C. Littleford, who since has been suspended after new allegations of sexual harassment by a former employee of the La Jolla school.

The suit names no dollar amount, but, according to Russell M. Lein, the Milwaukee attorney hired by Country Day, “There were no references to problems while Littleford was headmaster . . . in recommendations University School made to La Jolla.”

Littleford, 47, was suspended by Country Day on March 10. Pending “a full review” by school administrators, he continues to receive his salary as headmaster. He came to La Jolla in July, 1990, after serving as headmaster at the Milwaukee school since July, 1986.

His suspension followed a lawsuit, filed last October by a former receptionist at Country Day who claimed he repeatedly touched her, made inappropriate comments and pressured her for a date.

That suit, brought by Lisa R. Gordon, 23, who is now attending UC Davis, seeks $25,000 in damages from Littleford and Country Day. At the time, Gordon’s allegations were dismissed by board members, who said they unanimously supported the headmaster.

Heated complaints from parents about the Littleford controversy were soon followed by the resignation of then-board president Gloria de Aragon Andujar, who had championed Littleford’s hiring, and who, with other board members, had rejected a settlement offer of $40,000 from Gordon’s attorney.

Littleford has vehemently denied any wrongdoing--in La Jolla or Milwaukee--and declined comment on Thursday about the suit brought by Country Day against his former employers.

“Within a very short period of time, I will have a great deal to say and may, in fact, call a news conference to disclose information kept from the public, including the parents at Country Day,” he said. “It will be plenty meaty, and there will be a lot for everyone to deal with.”

James P. Connelly, attorney for the University School of Milwaukee, declined comment on Country Day’s suit, except to say it had no merit.

Parents of University School students learned of the lawsuit through a letter mailed this week by school administrators.

“While serious questions remain with respect to Mr. Littleford’s responsibility for the consequences of his personal behavior, University School has investigated with legal counsel the claims of La Jolla Country Day against University School and strongly believes all such claims to be without merit,” Geoffrey G. Maclay Jr., president of the University School’s board of trustees, said in the letter.

Maclay noted that a lawsuit might be brought by a former University School teacher against Littleford for “inappropriate behavior alleged to have taken place nearly four years ago, during his term as headmaster at University School, and that University School may be named as an additional defendant in that case.”

Dr. Sidney C. Smith Jr., president of the 17-member board of La Jolla Country Day School, said Thursday that the lawsuit against the Milwaukee school poses “some very serious concerns,” but that he and other officials are reluctant to comment further.

“It’s a very sensitive situation,” Smith said.

Smith said the review of Littleford’s performance goes beyond the scope of sexual-harassment allegations to include an assessment of “the overall administrative function at the school.”

The sexual-harassment suit brought by Gordon, the former receptionist, is still pending in San Diego County Superior Court, but, Smith said, “I’m optimistic about seeing it concluded.”

Gordon could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

In a statement released by Country Day, Smith’s fellow trustees say the suit against the prestigious Milwaukee school “involves facts and circumstances surrounding (Littleford’s) tenure,” and “we will pursue our investigation of the facts in the context of that action.”