PENSACOLA, Fla., Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A lawsuit filed yesterday in Escambia County Circuit Court alleges that a then 15-year-old student at S.L. Jones Christian Academy was sexually assaulted and raped by her science teacher, Da’Quarius Britt, and that the Pensacola private school failed to take basic steps to protect her, investigate the allegations or remove the teacher from his position.

The civil lawsuit, filed by attorneys Madeline E. Pendley and Troy A. Rafferty of Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa (RDCY), alleges that Britt sexually assaulted the student on school property, assaulted her again in his vehicle and then raped her at a Pensacola motel on August 29, 2025.

According to the complaint, the student had enrolled at S.L. Jones earlier that month and was attending classes when Britt began making inappropriate sexual comments to her. He allegedly suggested becoming her “sugar daddy” and offered her money in exchange for participating in sexual activities with adult men. After she rejected the proposition, Britt allegedly removed her from another classroom, took her outside the school building and sexually assaulted her.

Later that day, Britt contacted a family member caring for the student and falsely claimed he would drive her home after cheerleading tryouts. No such tryouts were taking place.

Instead of taking the student home, Britt transported her to the OYO Hotel. There, according to the complaint, he took her into a motel room and raped her despite her repeated protests and pleas for him to stop.

“Britt used his position of authority to exploit this child,” said Madeline Pendley, an attorney with RDCY. “Our lawsuit alleges he assaulted her on campus, drove her away in his personal vehicle, and took her to a hotel where he raped her. No one at the school stopped him. S.L. Jones Christian Academy was supposed to protect her. Instead, the school has kept this man employed and still allows him to interact with students. We are going to find out why this happened and who is responsible.”

The complaint alleges that S.L. Jones failed to adequately supervise Britt, allowing him to remove the student from class, take her outside the building without intervention and ultimately transport her off campus in his personal vehicle.

Perhaps most troubling, the lawsuit alleges that school officials learned of the sexual assault and rape allegations in September 2025 but failed to conduct an appropriate investigation, place Britt on administrative leave or take disciplinary action. According to the filing, Britt remains employed at the school with unrestricted and unsupervised access to children.

The student’s mother, identified in the complaint by Jane Doe to protect her daughter’s identity, said the family’s decision to pursue legal action is about seeking accountability and preventing other children from experiencing similar abuse.

“As a mother, you trust that when you send your child to school, the people there are going to protect her,” she said. “My daughter should have been safe in her classroom. She should have been safe with her teachers. What happened to her has changed her life and our family’s life. I cannot understand how the school could learn about something this serious and not take immediate action. I want answers, and I want to make sure no other child has to go through what my daughter has experienced.”

The lawsuit includes 15 civil claims involving sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring, negligent retention, negligent supervision and negligent security. It seeks damages for the student’s physical injuries, emotional trauma, medical expenses and continuing psychological suffering.

For Rafferty, the case reflects a broader concern about the responsibility of institutions entrusted with the care of vulnerable children.

Rafferty previously spent years advocating for survivors of abuse at Florida’s notorious Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School for Boys. Working alongside survivors, advocates and state lawmakers, he helped lead the effort that resulted in Florida approving a $20 million compensation program in 2024 for people who endured physical, sexual and psychological abuse at those institutions.

Although the circumstances differ, Rafferty said the underlying question of institutional accountability remains critically important.

“My work with the survivors of the Dozier School for Boys taught me something I will never forget: When an institution fails to protect children, the damage can follow those children for the rest of their lives,” said Troy A. Rafferty, a shareholder at RDCY. “For decades, the men who survived Dozier fought to have someone acknowledge what happened to them. We should never accept a system where children have to grow into adults before anyone takes their suffering seriously. This case is about demanding accountability now, when it matters most, and making clear that no school or institution should be permitted to look the other way when a child is in danger.”

According to the complaint, the student has experienced significant anxiety, depression, fear and difficulty trusting adults in positions of authority since the alleged assaults.

The complaint also points to statements on the S.L. Jones Christian Academy website describing its campus as “safe and secure” and promising an environment where children can learn with confidence. The lawsuit alleges that the school’s actual practices fell far short of those assurances.

The family is demanding a jury trial and seeking damages from Britt and the school. The complaint also reserves the right to seek permission to pursue punitive damages if supported by evidence developed during the litigation.

The allegations in the complaint have not yet been adjudicated.

The case is: JANE DOE, as parent and natural guardian of minor child, J.D., Plaintiff v. S.L. JONES CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, INC. and DA’QUARIUS BRITT, Individually, and it was filed on Wednesday October 28, 2026 in THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA.

About Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa

Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa is a leading Florida law firm dedicated to advocating for victims of mass torts, medical malpractice and corporate negligence. With offices in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Pensacola, and Jacksonville, the firm has a track record of holding powerful institutions accountable and fighting for justice on behalf of individuals and families affected by preventable harm.

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Natasha Diemer
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Phone: (561) 516-5168
Email: Natasha@pbglaw.com

Agency Contact:
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Email: bridget@amplifylaw.ai


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