YOUNGSTOWN Just over one week after a federal civil rights lawsuit was filed against Ursuline High School and its football program for alleged hazing and sexual assault, a second suit has been filed against the Youngstown Diocese and Ursuline, again alleging a pattern of protecting a football player and failing to report assault, harassment and abuse. 

The second suit alleges that a member of the football team, identified only as "Ursuline Player 6" had "violently assaulted, sexually harassed, stalked and menaced" a female student.

According to attorney Subodh Chandra, the player's alleged conduct began in June of 2023 when the player and alleged victim were freshmen. 

The suit alleges that the player, who Chandra described as approximately six feet tall, repeatedly solicited nude photos from the alleged victim, who Chandra described as "petite" and under five feet tall.

At one point, the player allegedly asked the alleged victim over Snapchat if she wanted to have sex. The suit states that the alleged victim refused to send the nude photos and refused to have sex with the player. 

Additionally, the suit alleges the player would flirt with her and try to touch her hands and put his arms around her shoulders.

According to the suit, the alleged victim blocked the player on Snapchat, but the alleged harassment only increased from there, with those alleged shoulder and arm touches becoming more "forceful and hostile."

The suit alleges that on the last day of summer gym classes, the player chased the alleged victim down, picked her up, violently dropped her on the ground twice and dragged her across rough turf for 30 feet, causing "serious injuries" including turf burns on her back.

According to the suit, when one of the alleged victim's friends called the player out for the incident, he allegedly replied "Yeah, and I'd do it again."

The suit alleges that when the alleged victim was going to the restroom following the alleged assault, she saw Athletic Director and Assistant Football Coach John DeSantis grilling hot dogs for the last day of summer school picnic and told him about this.

DeSantis allegedly simply said, "Okay," and told her to go the bathroom without showing any interest or sympathy.

Furthermore, the alleged victim's mother reported this to Assistant Principal Margaret Damore and DeSantis. The suit states that when the alleged victim discussed the alleged harassment via Snapchat, DeSantis replied, "I'm not interested in what happened before. I'm only interested in what happened today."

Additionally, the suit alleges Damore tried to blame the alleged victim for the incident because she didn't tell anyone what happened "immediately," despite her telling both the gym teacher and DeSantis immediately following the incident, according to the suit.

The suit further alleges neither reported the incident to law enforcement or children services. Instead, Damore allegedly "strongly advised" the alleged victim's mother not to file a police report and that the school would "handle it" and separate the two by the fall.

However, the suit alleges that did not happen, as the player and the alleged victim were placed in the same class, and that the alleged harassment continued for the next two years, and that administration continuously ignored repeated reports from the alleged victim and family members.

The suit alleges that the alleged victim's older brother eventually contacted DeSantis regarding the situation, but DeSantis allegedly responded with a text message reading, "The situation you mentioned happened four months ago. If there is something going on, she needs to report it to me on Monday morning."

According to the suit, within days of the alleged victim's report, the player called her a "snitch" and said, "She tried to get me in trouble, but she failed" within earshot of the alleged victim.

The suit further accuses Damore of retaliating against the alleged victim by disciplining her for minor transgressions differently than other students, and even alleges that when the alleged victim asked Damore, "So you're just never going to help me?" Damore simply replied, "No."

For example, the suit brings up a time when the alleged victim let her friend borrow her cell phone and her friend pranked an Ursuline teacher via text messages. The suit states the alleged victim did not know her friend would do this, but joined in when she found out.

The suit alleges when the two were caught, the alleged victim was suspended for five days, but the friend who initiated the prank was only suspended for three. According to the suit, five days is the maximum suspension permitted without the Diocese's approval.

"At Ursuline, a girl prank-texting warrants the maximum five-day suspension and loss of cell phone privileges, but violent attacks by a male football player merits no discipline or safety mesaures," the suit reads.

According to the suit, the alleged victim's family sold their home so she could transfer to a different school district for her safety.

In a press release, Chandra says that this suit, along with the recently filed hazing suit allege a "broader culture of sexual and physical abuse, and the dissemination of child porn by football team members - and a school effort to conceal those abuses."

"Ursuline's culture of ignoring violent assaults by its football players has existed for many years - due in part to the school's negligent and reckless hiring, training supervision and retention of administrators, coaches and teachers; and the school's willingness to turn a blind eye to the physical victimization of students it is entrusted to protect - all because the school elevates the glory of the football team above basic humanity and decency," the suit reads.

21 News has reached out to Ursuline High School and the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown for comment on the second suit. Ursuline replied stating that they are aware of "news reports" of the second suit and are reviewing it with their legal counsel and have no further comment.

The Diocese has yet to provide any comment.

Attorney Chandra said his law firm anticipates additional filings and amended filings in the coming weeks.

Chandra said any potential alleged victims and/or witnesses should contact his office. 

You can read the lawsuit in its entirety below. Some content and subject matter may be disturbing for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.