Bishop Luers, Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese faces lawsuit over child exploitation claims

On January 23, 2025By Littum

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – A newly filed lawsuit accuses Bishop Luers High School officials and the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese of negligence in handling “widespread cases” of child exploitation and pornography that falsely portrays female students.

The lawsuit alleges that boys who attend the Catholic high school created and sold video montages and digital folders featuring female Bishop Luers students’ names displayed over “explicitly pornographic” videos and photos from sites such as Pornhub.

Attorneys say the boys used photos of people “whose general appearance, including hair color and length, body type, skin color and other features resembled” minor female students at Bishop Luers.

The lawsuit alleges that several school and church officials were aware that videos and photos were being shared among students at several Fort Wayne schools in February 2023, but did not notify authorities or the victims’ parents. These officials include:

James Huth, former Bishop Luers High School principal and current director of development;
Principal Scott Kreiger;
David Maugel, Superintendent of Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocesan Schools; and
Kevin Mann, Bishop Luer’s Athletic Director and former Dean of Students

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The lawsuit also names the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis as a defendant and Bishop Luers High School.

“This case shows what happens when those entrusted with the care of our children fail to uphold their legal and moral responsibility to protect them,” said attorney Greg Laker. “Instead, Bishop Luers High School, the Diocese and the Archdiocese prioritized their own public image and reputation, completely failing the student victims.”

Lawyers say the defendants “failed to act with reasonable care to protect” four unnamed female students and dozens of other students.

“The sexual exploitation these minors have been subjected to is deeply dehumanizing,” said attorney Andrea Simmons. “To have victims further harmed by management’s deliberate concealment of the crimes reflects a shocking indifference to the dignity and well-being of students.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.