The parents of an eight-year-old girl have filed a shocking lawsuit against a prestigious Los Angeles private school, alleging their daughter was sexually assaulted in a bathroom as part of a student-run 'kissing club'. Pantea and Max Kipnis claim their child was bullied, harassed, and assaulted at Sierra Canyon School between 2023 and 2024.
Allegations of Systematic Abuse and Neglect
According to legal documents seen by the Daily Mail, the young pupil was repeatedly harassed and bullied by older students. The behaviour reportedly ranged from name-calling to peers peeking through bathroom stall doors while she used the facilities. The lawsuit states the intimidation became so severe the child was afraid to use the bathroom at school, often avoiding it entirely throughout the day.
Pantea Kipnis said she alerted the school to the bullying at the start of the academic year but claims no protective action was taken. "I told them that my daughter feared for her safety and was extremely uncomfortable going to the bathroom," Pantea stated during a press conference covered by KTLA. "She felt really uncomfortable, and she had to cover herself."
The 'Kissing Club' and Escalating Assault
The situation escalated when school officials allegedly discovered that several female students were gathering in bathrooms to participate in what was termed 'The Kissing Club'. The Kipnis's daughter was reportedly forced to join. The lawsuit contains grave allegations that the girl was pressured "to kiss the others in the bathroom" and "was forced by the older girls to kiss and touch their genital area."
Sam Dordulian, the family's attorney, explained the progression: "At first it started with just kissing, as far as we know, on the lips, but eventually it developed into kissing all throughout the body, including the intimate private parts." The legal filing argues this escalation was a direct result of a "complete lack of supervision" that allowed the club to operate unchecked for an extended period.
School's Celebrity Clientele and Parental Outrage
Sierra Canyon School is an exclusive institution, with tuition for kindergarten through sixth grade set at $39,800 for the 2025 academic year. It is famously attended by children of high-profile celebrities, including Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Willow Smith, and LeBron James' sons, Bronny and Bryce James.
The lawsuit accuses the school of negligence, false advertisement, and fraud for failing to uphold its promised safe environment. "Sierra Canyon promised that they would have a family-like environment. They promised a strong moral base and they promised to keep their daughter safe," Dordulian said.
Max Kipnis expressed profound frustration with the school's response, stating, "As a parent, I think one of the major issues is that we were not notified by the school at all. And had it not been for our own detective work and figuring all this out, this could have continued happening."
The family is seeking an unspecified amount in damages and has requested a jury trial. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 28. Daily Mail has contacted Sierra Canyon School, the Kipnis family, and their attorney for comment.
