Man suing Milwaukee school 8 years after incident with teacher

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee man is suing a Milwaukee school for $20 million. 

The suit alleges Saint Peter Immanuel Lutheran School staff didn't take action when a parent voiced their concerns multiple times over an inappropriate relationship between a former student and a teacher. 

At a news conference Tuesday, July 2, the attorney for Josiah Strong said his client was sexually abused and groomed by teacher and athletic director Elizabeth Dillett back in 2015 and 2016. 

Strong says after attending the school for eight years, he worked as a part-time custodian and helped Dillett with sporting events. 

It was during that period he says the abuse took place. 

Dillett was sentenced to two years in prison in December of 2016 for having sex with a 15-year-old boy. 

Tuesday, Strong says he was that victim and needed to go through therapy just to speak out. 

Strong is seeking damages from the school for the trauma he's had to endure and the school's lack of action. 

"The things that gets to me as adults, as adults, everyone who knew what I was going through did not care, they didn't address it, no one wanted to see how I was doing," Strong said. 

Strong's attorney says a parent came to the principal twice to report Dillett's behavior with Strong, and neither report led to an investigation from the school. 

The attorney alleges the principal told them, "That's between Dillett and Strong's mother." 

CBS 58 reached out to Saint Peter Immanuel Lutheran School for comment. They shared the following statement: 

"St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School entered the network of LUMIN Schools, and began to operate under the oversight and management of the LUMIN board and administration in 2020. Prior to 2020, St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School was a separate, stand-alone entity unaffiliated with LUMIN. The principal at the time of actions in the lawsuit was replaced before affiliation with the LUMIN network.

As a faith-based, Christ-centered network, LUMIN Schools strives to be a network of schools that are Christian in every sense of the word, caring deeply for the physical, emotional and spiritual growth and safety of each student.

We have deep compassion for Josiah and are working with our legal counsel to review the recent filings. We cannot provide additional details on ongoing legal matters at this time."