Pinewood Prep denies ReVille cover-up
Pinewood Preparatory School officials want the public to know they don't think a former student's December lawsuit against the elite private academy is worth the paper it's printed on.
Pinewood filed court papers Monday categorically denying the alumnus' allegations that the school and its former headmaster, Glyn Cowlishaw, covered up molestation by one-time teacher Louis "Skip" ReVille.
James Mann, chairman of the school's board of trustees, also took aim at the former student, known only as John Doe, in a written statement describing the complaint as "unfounded and without merit."
"Mr. ReVille was terminated solely for his failure to teach at the academic level that we expect from our teaching staff and is expected by the families who have sent their children to Pinewood for more than 60 years," Mann stated. "Those who claim that Mr. ReVille was terminated for any other reasons are misleading and wrong.
"The Pinewood staff will continue to cooperate with criminal investigators and provide information as requested by police."
The complaint is one of two lawsuits filed by former students accusing Pinewood of covering up ReVille's sexual abuse of students. The Motley Rice law firm represents both alumni, who are now young men.
Motley Rice attorney Laura Khare said her firm is not surprised by Pinewood's response.
"We remain confident, however, in the evidence we have supporting our clients' allegations that irresponsible silence and reckless oversight by the mandatory reporters at Pinewood allowed this abuse to happen," she said.
In the December lawsuit, John Doe alleges Pinewood turned a blind eye to ReVille's behavior, allowing the since admitted molester to abuse him on as many as 15 occasions beginning in 2004 when he was 12.
During this time, ReVille showed the boy pornography, masturbated in front of him and exposed him to sexually abusive behavior at ReVille's home, the suit states.
The second suit, filed last month, alleges similar behavior against another boy, who was also 12 when the abuse began in 2003. ReVille also allegedly fondled the victim and at least two other boys during after-school tutoring sessions in his classroom, the lawsuit states.
A parent reportedly brought this to the attention of Pinewood, Cowlishaw and guidance counselor Brendan Diffley but they didn't investigate the complaint or report it to police, as required by law, the lawsuit states.
ReVille, 32, held multiple teaching, coaching and volunteer positions in the Charleston area. He was arrested Oct. 28 in Mount Pleasant and stands accused of molesting nine boys in that town.
Police in Hanahan, Summerville and Charleston also are investigating ReVille's actions, and authorities have indicated that more charges are on the way.
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or on Twitter at @glennsmith5.
