HOUSTON — A woman alleges she was sexually abused as a child by her piano teacher at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.
I.R., filed a complaint Jan. 24 in Harris County District Court against William Marsh Rice University doing business as Rice University and Dariusz Pawlas alleging negligence.
The plaintiff alleges in her complaint that in the Spring of 2012, when she was 10-years old, she was sexually abused by her piano teacher, Dariusz Pawlas, who was employed by Rice University. Specifically, the plaintiff alleges that Pawlas groped her inner thighs and breasts as well as committed other sexual abuse which continued for several years.
She further alleges that there is public documentation of Pawlas' abuse of other children including one who reported he put his hands inside her underwear and that he "admitted this conduct" during a 2006 police interview.
The plaintiff claims that even after Pawlas' confession to police about the abuse, Rice University continued to allow him to teach piano and that the University failed to inform I.R.'s parents about the sexual abuse.
According to the complaint, Pawlas was charged with felony indecency in November of 2016.
The plaintiff seeks monetary relief of more than $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Edward Blizzard and Anna Greenberg of Blizzard Law PLLC in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2022-04366