Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP File Lawsuit Against Cabrillo Unified School District Alleging Years of Sexual Abuse by Former Teacher and Coach

SAN JOSE, Calif--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A civil lawsuit filed by the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, LLP in San Mateo County Superior Court alleges that Cabrillo Unified School District (CUSD) failed to protect a student from years of sexual abuse by former teacher and coach Paul Farnsworth, known as “Farnz”, despite repeated warning signs and alleged violations of appropriate adult-student boundaries.

The lawsuit, brought on behalf of a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe, alleges that Farnsworth began grooming her when she was a seventh-grader at Manuel F. Cunha Intermediate School in 2004. According to the complaint, the alleged grooming escalated into ongoing sexual abuse that continued throughout her high school years at Half Moon Bay High School through 2010 and into adulthood.

The complaint describes an alleged pattern of boundary violations, including Farnsworth singling out female students, driving minors in his personal vehicle, taking Doe to meals alone, sharing personal information with students, asking them to babysit, and making sexualized comments. 

The lawsuit further alleges that Farnsworth repeatedly invited Doe to his classroom at El Granada Elementary School after hours, locked the doors, and blacked out or covered the windows. The complaint also describes alleged incidents in which Farnsworth transported Doe in his personal vehicle and shared hotel rooms with her during school-sponsored athletic travel.

According to the filing, Farnsworth frequently hugged Doe and displayed physical affection toward her at school-sponsored cross-country and track meets, sometimes within direct view of other high school coaches.

The lawsuit alleges that district employees and administrators witnessed Farnsworth spending unusual amounts of time alone with Doe and engaging in physical displays of affection but failed to report, investigate, or address his conduct. It contends that CUSD did not take appropriate steps to intervene, increase supervision, or discipline or terminate Farnsworth, allowing the alleged abuse to continue for six years.

The lawsuit follows Farnsworth’s August 13, 2026 arrest and October 13, 2026 no contest plea to a felony lewd act charge involving a 14- or 15-year-old child. He admitted to taking advantage of his position of trust and confidence as Doe’s coach and that she was particularly vulnerable. According to the complaint, he remained employed by CUSD until his arrest.

“School districts are legally obligated to maintain safe environments for children entrusted to their care,” said Lauren Cerri, attorney at Cerri, Boskovich & Allard. “For years, Paul Farnsworth’s boundary violations were visible and continuous, parents and students knew something was not right, yet administrators and staff looked the other way while a student in their custody was repeatedly harmed. This lawsuit seeks full accountability for the institutional failures that allowed this to occur in plain view, as well as justice for the lasting trauma inflicted on our client.”