Former priest, Father Kevin Fitzpatrick of Anaheim's Catholic all-boys Servite High School, is the subject of five lawsuits filed in Orange County Superior Court.

In addition, the Orange County Register has obtained copies of four lawsuits filed this week, alleging that Fitzpatrick was a serial sexual predator who abused four Servite students in the 1980s.

Filing Lawsuits Against Former Priest at Servite High School

As reported by the East Bay Times,  the court follows a case filed in June in which a former Servite student claims that Fitzpatrick sexually abused him on numerous occasions between 1976, when he was 13 and an eighth grader applying to Servite, and 1980, when he graduated from the school. 

Also, another former Servite student filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court, claiming that English teacher and administrator Robert C. Cotton sexually attacked him on a monthly or biweekly basis beginning in 1980 when he was 16 and continuing for the rest of his time at Servite.

Cotton, a veteran employee of Servite who had been there for 38 years before his death in 2007, was 71 years old when he passed away.

The report also stated that while the school was still reviewing the June lawsuit's allegations in July, Servite took Fitzpatrick's name off the Father Kevin Fitzpatrick Aquatic Center, a $5.7 million state-of-the-art facility completed in 2017. 

In a letter to the school community, Servite said it was removing Fitzpatrick's name from the center, awaiting the conclusion of an internal review of the claims. The letter explained that the action was taken to show their dedication to peace and unity.

As per the report, however, four lawsuits filed on Thursday assert that Servite, the Diocese of Orange, and the Order of the Servants of Mary were negligent in their oversight of Fitzpatrick and the four students.

Five lawsuits have been filed against Fitzpatrick. They all center around allegations that he groomed young boys for sexual assault by giving them haircuts at his office in an annex between the primary school structure and the athletic facilities. 

The June lawsuit claims Fitzpatrick sexually abused the survivor while sitting in a barber chair, and the priest fiddled with his hair. All four lawsuits filed this week accuse Servite of being where Fitzpatrick was abused.

In 1980, a student who was 14 at the time filed a complaint against Fitzpatrick, claiming he sexually assaulted him.

About Servite High School

Servite High School in Anaheim, California, is a Catholic college-preparatory high school. 

Their cutting-edge teaching methods contribute to a better society by equipping the next generation of leaders with the skills, values, and insight necessary to thrive in higher education and beyond. 

For young men, according to their website, Servite offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover who they want to be, become part of a lifelong brotherhood, and develop their interests and talents. 

They aim to foster a well-rounded individual by providing outstanding educational opportunities in addition to a wide range of sports, performing arts, and clubs.

There are several ways for potential students and their families to get a taste of the Servite difference and learn more about their distinctive approach.