BORDERLAND

Clay alumnus claims trainer abused him

1/21/2014

A former Clay High School student filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court alleging he too was sexually abused by a former athletic trainer for the school.

The lawsuit accuses Melinda Rober of “sexually groping and having sexual gratification with the plaintiff, which included placing her hands on his private parts, down his pants, sexually suggestive talk, in addition to sexual relations.” It further alleges she harassed or coerced the plaintiff to engage in such conduct.

The lawsuit is the fourth to be filed against Ms. Rober, Clay High School, various school administrators, and ProMedica Health Systems since Ms. Rober, 35, of 2552 106th St., was indicted last May on two counts of sexual battery for incidents involving Clay students in 2011 and 2012. The latest suit also names ProMedica Sports Care, Bay Park Community Hospital, and ProMedica Continuing Care Services Corp. as plaintiffs.

Ms. Rober, who was employed by ProMedica to work with student athletes at Clay, is scheduled for trial in the criminal case on Monday.