ANDREOZZI + FOOTE
CLOVIS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FACES SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUIT OVER TEACHER NENG YANG'S ABUSE
Reviewed by:
Benjamin D. Andreozzi, Esq.
- Last Updated: July 15, 2025
On This Page
- What to Know About the Clovis Unified Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Neng Yang
- Key Allegations in the Clovis Unified Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
- Who is Neng Yang? Former Clovis Unified Teacher Convicted of Sexual Abuse?
- District Neglect and Alleged Cover-Up By Clovis Unified School District
- Survivors Speak Out Against Neng Yang and Clovis Unified School District
- What to Do If You or Someone You Know Was Abused by a School Teacher or Staff
- How Andreozzi + Foote Helps Survivors of School Sexual Abuse Seek Justice
Once seen as a trusted educator, Clovis Unified School District’s Neng Yang has been convicted of sexually abusing multiple students from 1998 to 2012. Now, survivors are coming forward to share their stories, and five of his former students have filed a lawsuit against Clovis Unified School District, or CUSD.
The allegations in this Clovis Unified sexual abuse lawsuit reveal more than just the actions of a single teacher. They expose a troubling pattern of negligence and cover-ups by district leadership. This case is about holding not just one individual accountable, but an entire system that failed to protect the children in its care.
“Clovis Unified was protecting this predator. They continued to have him teaching at that school, knowing he was assaulting students.”
- Plaintiff Muñoz
What to Know About the Clovis Unified Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Neng Yang
The Clovis Unified sexual abuse lawsuit, filed in June 2025, seeks justice on behalf of the survivors of Yang’s abuse and aims to hold CUSD responsible for enabling years of abuse. The suit is the latest push for institutional accountability within California schools for decades of sexual abuse of students.
The survivors allege CUSD leadership ignored warning signs, failed to act on complaints, and allowed Yang continued access to children. Sadly, this case does not stand alone, mirroring other school abuse lawsuits nationwide and revealing systemic issues that place students at risk.
Survivors and their families are demanding answers, accountability, and change to understand how this could happen under the district’s watch and prevent future tragedies.
Key Allegations in the Clovis Unified Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
The lawsuit against Clovis Unified School District outlines serious allegations that go beyond the criminal actions of Neng Yang. The lawsuit accuses the district of the following:
- Failing to Report Abuse to Authorities: School leadership allegedly ignored or failed to properly report complaints and warning signs, allowing abuse to continue unchecked.
- Negligent Hiring, Training, and Supervision: The lawsuit claims that Clovis Unified did not adequately vet, train, or supervise staff to protect students.
- Creating an Unsafe Environment for Students: By failing to act, the district allegedly fostered a culture that didn’t prioritize student safety.
- Emotional, Physical, and Psychological Damages: Survivors of Yang’s abuse have endured severe emotional trauma, mental health impacts, and long-lasting psychological injuries.
Who is Neng Yang? Former Clovis Unified Teacher Convicted of Sexual Abuse?
Yang was a long-time elementary school teacher at Fancher Creek Elementary in CUSD. For over a decade, Yang used his position of trust and authority to groom, isolate, and abuse multiple young students.
In 2012, Yang was arrested on numerous state and federal sexual abuse charges after police discovered explicit videos on his cell phone of him molesting students. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to two federal counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and was sentenced to 38 years in prison. Numerous survivors have since come forward to share their stories, revealing the widespread and devastating impact of Yang’s actions. Yan’s abuse allegedly included groping, fondling, forcing children into sexual acts, and forcing a child to participate in child pornography.
His conviction has led to a broader investigation into how CUSD failed to prevent this abuse and protect its students.
District Neglect and Alleged Cover-Up By Clovis Unified School District
The lawsuit against Clovis Unified School District highlights severe negligence and an alleged cover-up that enabled abuse toward students for years. Survivors and their families claim the district failed in its most basic duty—to protect children from harm.
Decades of Warnings and Ignored Complaints
According to the lawsuit, CUSD officials knew or should have known that Mr. Yang posed a danger to students and was likely to sexually abuse them. The complaint says that students and parents repeatedly raised concerns about Yang’s behavior. However, school administrators allegedly often ignored, dismissed, or inadequately addressed these reports. Despite the alleged red flags and repeated warnings, the district allowed Yang to continue teaching.
Families claim this lack of action by CUSD created an environment where abuse could proliferate, leaving survivors vulnerable and silenced.
A Pattern of Institutional Failure
School districts across the United States have faced similar lawsuits for failing to protect students from sexual abuse by teachers and staff. CUSD has previously faced allegations of serious misconduct in its schools.
These cases reveal systematic issues, including insufficient training on mandatory reporting, inadequate reporting protocols, insufficient employment screening, and a lack of meaningful accountability, that allow abuse to continue.
The recent surge in legal actions across California has been driven in part by Assembly Bill 218, enacted in 2019, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse lawsuits and opened a window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file claims dating back to as early as 1940.
Survivors Speak Out Against Neng Yang and Clovis Unified School District
The voices of survivors are at the core of this lawsuit. Former students of Neng Yang are bravely coming forward to share their experiences, shedding light on years of abuse they endured under his care. Many describe how Yang groomed and isolated them, leaving them voiceless and alone.
Today, these survivors are uniting to demand accountability from Clovis Unified School District. They are calling for meaningful change to ensure no other child experiences the pain and betrayal they suffered. The courageous steps they’ve taken to speak out not only set them on a path toward justice but also aim to protect future generations from similar harm.
“As a result of coming forward about what happened to me, I learned that another girl apparently complained about Mr. Yang abusing her years before me.”
“To say I’m shocked is an understatement. It looks like school officials allowed him to abuse kids in his class for more than a decade until he was finally arrested for abusing one of them.”
“When I was in second grade, I was violated by Mr. Yang. What they told my grandmother was [that] I was not normal—that normal kids don’t make up stuff like this. So they put me in mental health counseling.”
“I got punished for him sexually abusing me, and that’s not right. And I had to deal with that all my life, and it still follows me to this day.”
What to Do If You or Someone You Know Was Abused by a School Teacher or Staff
Coming forward about sexual abuse takes immense courage. If you or someone you know has been abused at a school, know that you are not alone and help is available. To protect your rights and pursue the justice you deserve, take the following steps:
- Seek Safety and Support: Your well-being is the priority. Reach out to trusted friends, family, or professional counselors who can provide emotional support as you process what happened.
- Consider Reporting the Abuse: You have the option to report the abuse to law enforcement, the school district or board, or the California Department of Education. Reporting can help hold abusers and institutions accountable and protect others from harm.
- Know That Legal Help Does Not Require Reporting: Even if you choose not to report to authorities, you can still seek legal guidance. Speaking with an experienced California school abuse attorney is confidential and does not require you to take any action unless you are ready.
- Document What You Remember: Write down any details you can recall, including names, dates, locations, and past complaints or reports made to school officials. This information is essential in building a strong case.
- Understand Your Rights Under California Law: California has extended the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file suit. Many survivors can still file civil lawsuits, even if the abuse occurred years ago.
At Andreozzi + Foote, our trauma-informed attorneys offer free, confidential consultations to help you understand your options. We’re here to listen, support, and fight for the justice you deserve.
How Andreozzi + Foote Helps Survivors of School Sexual Abuse Seek Justice
At Andreozzi + Foote, we stand with survivors of school sexual abuse and their families. As one of the nation’s leading law firms handling institutional abuse cases, our team has built a strong reputation for taking on powerful organizations and achieving life-changing results for our clients. We are known for representing survivors in some of the highest-profile cases in the country, including the Penn State University sexual abuse scandal.
Our attorneys are exclusively focused on sexual abuse cases and approach each matter with a trauma-informed, compassionate, and professional mindset. We understand how deeply abuse affects every aspect of a survivor’s life, and we are dedicated to uncovering the truth and holding institutions accountable.
If you or someone you love was abused at school, know that you have legal rights. You can come forward confidently, knowing our team will support you with care, dignity, and respect.
Contact Andreozzi + Foote today or call (866) 311-8640 for a free, in-depth, confidential case evaluation. Together, we can fight for the justice and accountability you deserve.
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We understand the courage it takes to reach out for help, and we are here to listen. At Andreozzi + Foote, our trauma-informed attorneys are dedicated to providing compassionate, confidential support every step of the way. With extensive experience in advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where your voice is heard and your rights are fiercely protected. Contact us today for a free, in-depth consultation and take the first step toward justice.
