School Asks Dismissal Of Sex Suit

The sexual misconduct case of Dody Stewart versus Steve Milionis and the Wallace School District joined several other cases on Judge Gary Haman’s desk Tuesday.

The district court judge took the school district’s request for summary judgment under advisement.

The school district is trying to have the case thrown out because Stewart did not file her tort claim until five years after she graduated.

Stewart, now 23, is accusing Milionis of initiating sexual relations with her when she was a 14-year-old student at Silver Hills Middle School.

Milionis taught there at the time and now is a Coeur d’Alene High School counselor and football coach.

The Wallace schools’ attorney, Susan Servick, argued in court Tuesday that Stewart did not file her claim within the 120 days from her graduation as the law requires.

Stewart’s attorney, John Magnuson, said Stewart’s claim is still valid because she only recently became aware of the extent of psychological damage she suffered.

Magnuson said the Wallace School District hired Milionis within six days of receiving a letter from him, and never checked with Grangeville, where he taught previously.

Wallace school officials also failed to adequately investigate rumors of the relationship, Magnuson argued.

Haman put off making a decision because he was busy with other cases.

, DataTimes