A third lawsuit has been filed against former Northwood Elementary School Principal Kirk Ashton and the HIlton Central School District, this one charging that the district failed to do its job properly in hiring Ashton in the first place.
The suit is filed on behalf of a child who was a first grader from September, 2019 to March 2020. It says the district had actual and/or constructive knowledge that Ashton was sexually abusing students at the school and created circumstances that allowed it to continue.
Ashton was arrested in April and accused of sexually abusing nine young boys who were students at Northwood. Authorities say more than 20 victims have come forward.