Former Connecticut Coast Guard cadets file sexual harassment complaint

“Had the Coast Guard implemented policies or practices at the Academy to prevent and adequately address sexual violence, my abuser would not have been able to sexually abuse me. The fact that countless female and male cadets at the Academy have suffered repeated sexual violence over several decades clearly demonstrates the Coast Guard's negligence,” the complaints state.

Christine Dunn, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys, said she received confirmation of service of the lawsuit on the Coast Guard Thursday morning. She hopes the more than a dozen people who have filed lawsuits will encourage others to come forward, too. She has already spoken to one more victim since the lawsuit was filed.

“We hope this is just the tip of the iceberg and that more survivors will come forward,” Dunn said, adding that she hopes to “continue to grow this small army of survivors.” She is working with another attorney at Sanford Heisler Sharp as well as Maritime Legal Solutions.

The statute of limitations for lawsuits under the Federal Tort Claims Act is two years from the time the claim arises, which could make it difficult for former cadets to pursue their claims.

Dunn noted that all of her clients' allegations were made more than two years ago, but she argued that they were unaware of the Coast Guard's inappropriate handling of sexual assault and harassment until reports about Fouled Anchor became public in June 2023.

She pointed to the U.S. Department of Justice's recent settlement over the FBI's handling of allegations related to sports doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing minors. The plaintiffs, including members of the U.S. women's national gymnastics team, relied on the same federal tort law to seek damages for the FBI's alleged failure to investigate the allegations against Nassar.

“It wasn't until the whole Operation Fouled Anchor thing came to light that our clients realized the extent of the Academy's responsibility for their own sexual assaults,” Dunn said. “The clock only started ticking since last summer.”

If the claims are denied, clients can decide whether to pursue further legal action. Dunn said they are “still evaluating all of our options” and potentially lawsuits could be filed in federal court in Washington, DC or Connecticut.

The Coast Guard confirmed receipt of the requests but said in a statement that “federal law prohibits us from discussing details.”

“The Coast Guard will resolve the claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act and all other applicable laws. Sexual assault and sexual harassment have no place in our service. The Coast Guard is committed to protecting our workforce and ensuring a safe and respectful environment free from sexual assault, sexual harassment and other harmful conduct,” a Coast Guard spokesperson said.

As part of Operation Fouled Anchor, Commander Linda Fagan has testified before Congress twice in the past year. Most recently, she appeared before U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal's committee in June, where she said she would “stand firm in her commitment to sustainable cultural change.”

At that hearing, lawmakers asked Fagan whether the Coast Guard had taken any action against survivors who faced retaliation for reporting allegations or against leadership that played a role in keeping Operation Fouled Anchor secret. She said she was waiting for the completion of the DHS inspector general's investigation, which she added “will shed light on whether or not there was non-criminal misconduct.”

The Coast Guard has taken some steps to prevent and combat sexual misconduct, including implementing a policy that allows victims to safely report sexual misconduct despite fear of punishment for minor, unrelated offenses.

A Coast Guard spokesperson recently said leadership had implemented more than half of the 33 actions recommended by Fagan after the Coast Guard completed a review of its accountability last July. And in its statement Thursday, the Coast Guard said it would devote “significant resources to improving prevention, victim assistance and accountability” in connection with that review.

While Thursday's lawsuit focuses on alleged sexual misconduct at the Coast Guard Academy, congressional investigators have also turned their attention to enlisted ranks and allegations that emerged just a few years ago.

Five current and former Coast Guard members testified at a field hearing in New London last month about the obstacles they faced in reporting, the retaliation that often followed and the lack of accountability of alleged attackers.

This story is a production of the New England News Collaborative. It was produced by the Connecticut Mirror and Connecticut Public Radio.

The position of federal politics reporter for the Connecticut Mirror/Connecticut Public Radio is made possible in part by funding from the Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation.