KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A former Legacy Christian Academy teacher is suing the private K-8 school in Valencia, claiming harassment, discrimination, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress in a lawsuit naming her former employer, the school’s founder and two administrators.
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Sabra Ottaviano alleges she was harassed because of her divorce from her husband, who also works at the school, according to the lawsuit. The suit also claims school officials defamed her by lying about her being drunk at a school fundraiser, in order to create grounds to fire her.
Legacy Christian Academy officials were contacted for this story, and did not respond to any specific claims mentioned in the lawsuit, and instead released the following statement:
“Dear Legacy Families,
You may be aware that this last week, one of our former teachers distributed on-campus copies of a complaint she had filed initiating a lawsuit against our school regarding the termination of her employment, which had occurred earlier this year. She was also interviewed by a local television news station regarding her accusations.
We would like you to know the following: 1. The complaint and the media coverage do not accurately describe the reasons for her termination and contain many other inaccuracies. 2. Beyond that, we will not comment as we do not publicly discuss the details of personnel actions in accord with our policies.”
Ottaviano worked for Legacy Superintendent Tim Borruel from 1993 as an operator of one of his child care centers, to April 2015, when she was put on leave, investigated without a chance to defend herself and then fired with five weeks left in the school year, according to her lawsuit.
Ottaviano claims Borruel, the school’s co-founder, “stressed” to Ottaviano she “‘needed to be able to represent that she had a ‘biblical’ divorce — meaning that the divorce was caused by abandonment, abuse or adultery. … When Ottaviano refused to do so, Borruel indicated that he would tell others that she was separated but desired to remain married,” according to the complaint.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial; punitive damages to punish and deter; and attorney fees, among other costs.
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Dontcha just love those WHO THINK THEY ARE GOD! Unfortunately, too many “Christians” these days make up their own rules. It might help others to see one lives and walks with God, helps others in need, and allows God to judge. This teacher deserves far better than. Get a job in the public school system. You’ll be much happier!
Don’t you just love those who make assumptions without know the facts. The only rules for a Christian are found in the Bible. But when you sign a contract you are to honor your contract. You sound plain bitter towards Christians. By the way not everyone who says they are a Christian are a Christian that is seen in their actions. So, don’t make sweeping judgmental comments that are stupid.
Don’t let this “teacher” fool anyone. You should have seen how this “holy” woman was acting at the Boys & Girls Club Auction last Friday at the Hyatt Hotel. Everyone, even teachers, are allowed to have a good time but when you are so drunk that you are putting up false auction bids and then running out of the room because you don’t want to pay for it, then you have a problem. Then, she almost gets into a fight at the bar outside the auction. Finally, if that weren’t enough for a charity event, when you insist on trying to re-enter the event after being kicked out because you just have to have another drink, you have a problem. Good thing her Cowboy Hat boyfriend was smart enough to keep her from going back into the auction.
I am sure the parents of her students wouldn’t be too happy to hear or see the way she acts when she away from her job.
Ironically the Auction theme this year was “Prom Re-visited.” These antics sure reminded me of what Prom was like in High School.
I notice you do not have the courage to show you name!
Does my stalker have a name? For someone watching me so closely you should get your facts straight!
Let me establish first that I am a Christian woman. Having said that, Christianity teaches working through difficulties in marriage and not to divorce unless there are extenuating circumstances (such as those listed in the article). Litigation is not encouraged in the Christian faith–it goes directly against the value of forgiveness, tolerance and turning the other cheek. It violates the trust we are to have in a Sovereign and just God, whom the other person will be accountable to one day (Romans 12:8) and it does nothing to ‘seek peace at all cost’ (Hebrews 12:14). On the other hand, if Legacy indeed spread deframatory rumors about this woman in order to make her appear like more of a ‘sinner’, they are no better than the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. This is what happens when we sinful and broken people seek vengeance and attempt to control others, instead of seeking God’s help and trusting in His ways. Submitting to a higher power is something this world absolutely hates.
I trust Tim Borruel.
This poor girls life is in a downward spiral!
Every time I have seen her out she was a little to drunk and out of control!
There are many rumors she was having an affair with the father of one of her students she was tutoring at the students house which makes her an adulterous! She finally left her husband and immediately she started dating some other guy that seemed like a very nice guy but he probably dumped her because of her drinking and a week or so later she was totally hooked up with some white trash cowboy that is also a drunk!
She is a drunk and was fired for being drunk! that is not the way to conduct yourself at a school function, especially an outstanding school like Legacy! She absolutely deserved to get fired!
Sad friend … I doubt you are or ever were a friend. You have a lot to say but do not have the strength to use a name! Nothing you have said is true.. But you already knew that or you would of put your name with your comment!
She has made such a mess of her life and anyone that was paying attention saw it coming. Let’s just look at one little fact. CBS reported she will just teach Kindergarten at a public school. Last I checked you needed a credential to do that. She does not have a credential. Legacy was kind enough to trust in her while she didn’t have one yet all the other teachers did.
Even her own web page states she doesn’t have one. That its “in progress”. This woman had it all and threw it away and now needs a free ride to keep her lifestyle afloat and she is going after the owners money.
She reportedly went on to the school campus and handed out copies of her lawsuit to people and has obviously taken her allegations to the media. Those activities appear somewhat suspect to me.. I’m quite surprised her attorney (if he knew about it) allowed her to go onto the campus to give out handouts.
If you believe you have such a good case, then you shouldn’t need the extra attention. Take it to court and let a jury decide…
Legacy is very pretentious about there ultimate goal of Christian education! Not truly a Christian academic foundation but one of power and prestige. Look at the suit involving the teacher, now the highly touted computer learning teacher is arrested. So glad I opted out to sending my child to this disaster of a Christian school.