Student settles claims from relationship with teacher for $2 million

The Harrisonville School District has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a student’s claim that a high school aide and coach — who is also the son of the district’s superintendent — engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with her.

Cass County Associate Judge J. Michael Rumley approved the settlement Feb. 26. The district released the settlement amount — which has not been previously reported — in response to a public-records request by Missouri Lawyers Media.

The student is a minor identified in court records as Jane Doe. In January 2019, she filed suit in Cass County Circuit Court against the district; its former superintendent, Frank Dahman; his son, Joseph Dahman; and other school officials. At the time of the settlement, the only remaining defendants were the Dahmans.

In an amended petition filed in March 2019, Doe brought claims of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, negligent breach of ministerial duties, breach of fiduciary duty and negligent infliction of emotional distress. She also brought claims of negligence against the Dahmans.

Doe alleged that after she transferred to Harrisonville High School in 2016 as a freshman, she was introduced to Joseph Dahman, and he began an inappropriate relationship with her.

The two began talking, flirting, texting and corresponding over social media platforms, and then the relationship became sexual in nature, the suit alleged.

The suit alleged the two had sexual contact and took illegal substances together, both on school grounds and at the Dahman home when the superintendent was at home and awake.

Doe alleged that the two were observed in the school hallway having “odd” and “inappropriate” interactions and disagreements, but no one at the school took steps to intervene.

The contact between the two continued until August 2017, when school officials allegedly questioned her about the relationship. Doe said she admitted to having contact and a relationship with Joseph Dahman at that time.

She alleged a teacher told her peers of the relationship, and that harassment, bullying and teasing from her peers followed. As a result, she started taking part in a homebound program to continue her education.

Doe alleged teachers, school administrators and the superintendent knew or should have known what occurred between her and Joseph Dahman prior to the August 2017 incident. She additionally alleged the district failed to abide by its own policies in its handling of her case.

The defendants jointly denied Doe’s allegations. In the reply to the amended petition, they said that Doe denied having a sexual relationship with Dahman when she was questioned in 2017.

According to the Associated Press, Frank Dahman retired in 2018 from the district. Joseph Dahman, who worked as an aide and coached football and wrestling, resigned from the school after the allegations came to light in 2017. No criminal charges have been filed against Joseph Dahman.

Jessica Agnelly of the Wendt Law Firm, who represented Doe, didn’t respond to a message seeking comment. Brandon Mizner of Enz & Jester, who represented the district Mark Katz of Baty Otto Coronado, who represented Joseph Dahman, also didn’t respond to  messages. James W. Tippin, who represented Frank Dahman, declined to comment.

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