A lawsuit has been filed against the Shoreline Unified School District and its former superintendent, Robert Raines, who was convicted of a sex offense. The victim’s mother has brought the legal action, seeking unspecified damages for alleged negligence in hiring and supervision, sexual assault, battery, and other claims. The lawsuit, which does not disclose the plaintiff’s name, was filed in Marin County Superior Court.
Robert Raines, 70, was arrested in 2021 on charges of inappropriate contact with a child who is the offspring of a district employee. The alleged incident occurred in Raines’ office. In November, a jury found Raines guilty of a misdemeanor offense of annoying or molesting the child. As a result, he was sentenced to serve 210 days in the Marin County Jail and required to register as a sex offender for a minimum of 10 years.
Raines has appealed his conviction and was able to post bail while the appeal is pending, according to his attorney, Charles Dresow. However, Raines did not provide any comment regarding the lawsuit. Similarly, Adam Jennings, the current superintendent of the Shoreline Unified School District, declined to comment on the matter.
An initial hearing for the lawsuit is scheduled for June 20 in Marin County Superior Court. The case will address the allegations of negligence on the part of the school district in hiring and supervising Raines, as well as the claims of sexual assault and battery.
