by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

The criminal and civil cases involving former Claremont Unified School District Board of Education President Steven Llanusa stemming from a 2022 holiday party appear to be heading toward resolution.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office filed charges against Llanusa, Tandy Robinson, and Blake Taylor White in February 2023 in relation to their alleged actions at the 2022 party: Llanusa was charged with two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one misdemeanor charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor under 21; White was charged with two felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor 14 or 15 years of age in which the defendant is 10 years older than the victim, and four misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting a child under 18; Robinson was charged with one misdemeanor count of furnishing alcohol to a minor under 21. All three pled not guiltyto their respective charges in April 2023.

In April 2024, White entered into a plea agreement, pleading no contest to two misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting a child under 18. He was sentenced to one year of probation, ordered to register as a sex offender, enroll in a one-year sex offender counseling program, complete 20 days of community labor, make restitution to the victim, and pay various fines and court fees.

White appeared at Pomona Superior Court on June 13. The DA’s office wrote in an email that the terms of his probation had been completed. He was also ordered to pay unspecified fines and fees by the court.

Llanusa and Robinson also appeared June 13 and delivered updates to their respective diversion plans granted by Judge Victor Martinez in September 18 2024. Llanusa’s plan included completion of a one-year child abuse prevention program and 100 hours of community service. Robinson was tasked with completion of one-year of individual counseling, a child abuse prevention program, and 60 hours of community service.

Robinson’s lawyer, G. Christopher Gardner from the Law Offices of Michael A. Scafiddi Inc., said his client’s case was dismissed.

“The diversion case was settled without an admission, without anything on her record because she substantially complied with everything that she was supposed to do,” Gardner said. The DA’s office said Robinson “satisfied all court obligations.”

Llanusa’s case was continued to Thursday September 18, pending completion of his diversion plan. The DA’s office wrote in an email that “This date was calendared for one year after the court placed the defendant on diversion. The hearing will be either a Pretrial Conference or Diversion Termination/Dismissal.”

Lawyers representing Llanusa and White did not respond to requests for comment.

Lozano v. CUSD

A separate but related civil case, Lozano v. CUSD, et al, was brought in Los Angeles County Superior Court by plaintiff Lily Sophia Lozano in December 2023. It was reassigned to federal court in August 2024.

Lozano was said to be among one of the CHS choir members asked to perform at Llanusa’s home at the December 2022 holiday party, according to the complaint. It accuses Llanusa, Robinson, and former Claremont High Choir Director Joel Wilson of negligence, battery, sexual battery, and gender violence (per California code § 52.4), and White, referred to in the complaint as a “stripper,” of battery, sexual battery, and gender violence. Llanusa, Robinson, Wilson and CUSD are also accused of negligence/negligent supervision, negligence/negligent hiring, training and/or retention, violation of mandatory child abuse reporting, public entity liability for failure to perform mandatory duty, and conspiracy.

The complaint also accuses CUSD, Llanusa, and Wilson of false imprisonment and unlawful seizure, a violation of 42 United States Code §1983, and of a violation of Lozano’s civil rights under municipal liability, per Monell v. Department of Social Services.

Finally, Llanusa, Robinson, Wilson, White, and CUSD are accused of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

On May 6, Lozano’s lawyers — Mark Bloom, Martin Kanarek, Mathew Russell, and Olivier Taillieu of BD&J Injury Lawyers — and CUSD’s legal counsel — Golnar Fozi and Daniel Modafferi of Fozi Dwork & Modafferi, LLP — cosigned a “notice of settlement” and filed it with Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani of the United States District Court Central District of California.

“Notice is hereby given that plaintiff Lily Sophia Lozano has reached a settlement with defendants Claremont Unified School District, Steven Llanusa, and Joel Wilson as to all claims against these defendants,” the filing stated. “The parties are finalizing a formal, written settlement agreement. The parties estimate that all terms of the settlement will be completed, and the parties will be prepared to file a stipulation of dismissal as to these defendants, within 60 days.”

Details of the settlement are limited.

“As this matter involves a legal settlement, Claremont Unified School District is limited in what it can share publicly,” CUSD spokesperson Elain Kong wrote in email Tuesday. “The District can confirm that a resolution related to the claims involving CUSD and certain named individuals has been reached. However, due to legal confidentiality agreements and privacy considerations, we are not at liberty to discuss specific terms of the settlement, including any financial details.”

Robinson’s legal counsel in the matter, Nicholas Walls of Hanger, Steinberg, Shapiro & Ash, wrote in an email Wednesday that the settlement with CUSD, Llanusa, and Wilson, was reached the day before his client’s deposition was set to take place.

“The matter has likewise been resolved as against our client for a nominal monetary amount,” Walls added. “Settlements in civil cases are reached for a variety of reasons, and Plaintiff’s counsel would be the best source of such information.” The DA’s office wrote that Robinson was ordered to pay $2,500 per the civil lawsuit.

Lozano’s lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.

White’s legal counsel was not listed on Public Access to Court Electronic Records at PACER.gov or Los Angeles County Superior Court at lacourt.org. It’s unclear whether the charges against him have been adjudicated.

“Because this is a multi-party case with other individuals named, we cannot speak on behalf of co-defendants or comment on legal strategies or decisions made by the plaintiff’s counsel,” Kong added. “We appreciate your understanding as we follow all applicable laws and uphold our responsibilities to the students, staff, and community we serve.”

Llanusa cross-complaint 

In November 2024, Llanusa, through his civil attorneys Linda Bauermeister and Robert Kostrenich of Barber & Bauermeister, filed a civil cross-complaint against Robinson seeking “indemnity, contribution, proration, declaratory relief, [and] civil code §1431,” which pertains to joint liability.

Both Llanusa’s and Robinson’s civil lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.