@townsofnewjersey: Learn more👇 A former Leonia High School drama teacher is facing a lawsuit accusing him of sexually abusing a student during private acting lessons in the late 1990s. The complaint, filed by an unnamed former student, alleges that James Avidon began grooming her in 1993 during a summer drama program and later escalated the abuse throughout her high school years. The suit claims Avidon arranged lessons without parental consent, manipulated the student emotionally, and abused her both in school and outside of it, including pulling her from class and driving her home. The lawsuit also names the Leonia Board of Education, alleging negligence and failure to protect students. “It is time that the teacher and the school take responsibility for this sexual abuse of a vulnerable student,” said the plaintiff’s attorney, Bruce Nagel. This comes as Leonia schools face renewed scrutiny over past abuse cases. In June, four men urged the board to take accountability for assaults by another former teacher, John Anagnosti, who was convicted in 1982 of molesting a 9-year-old boy. - Follow @townsofnewjersey for more #local news. #bergencounty #bergencountynj #northjerseynews #njnews

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Friday 12 September 2025 13:58:24 GMT