Corboy & Demetrio Files Lawsuit in Rape of 13-year-old Girl during School Field Trip

Corboy & Demetrio Partners Francis Patrick Murphy and Daniel S. Kirschner filed a lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of a teenage girl who was raped during a school field trip by another student at Northern Illinois Academy where both were residents.

The lawsuit alleges that Jane Doe, then 13 years old and in the 8th grade, and Cody Pomrenke, then an 18-year-old high school student, were residents at NIA and that during an outing to the Aurora Public Library, Pomrenke lured Jane Doe into the men’s restroom and raped her.

Pomrenke has been charged with criminal sexual assault. The lawsuit alleges that Pomrenke has a history of sexual aggression at the school, which the school knew about. Jane Doe no longer attends NIA.

“Rape is the most horrific injury a woman, or here, a child, can suffer,” Murphy said. With professional counseling, we hope Jane will be able to overcome her injuries,” he added.

“Proper procedures and supervision would have prevented this crime, according to Kirschner. “Parents should not have their trust in a school betrayed by such a lack of basic common sense by those charged with the duty to protect our children,” he added.

The lawsuit was filed in Kane County on Oct. 15, 2019 and names Northern Illinois Academy, Sequel Schools and Cody Pomrenke as defendants. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Case #19L-000502, John Doe, father of Jane Doe, a minor v. Sequel Schools, LLC, d/b/a Northern Illinois Academy and Cody Pomrenke.