Newly released documents reveal that Litchfield school officials were repeatedly warned about allegations of sexual misconduct by the late track and field coach David Driscoll, but failed to take decisive action for years.
The documents surfaced shortly after Stamford-based attorney Paul Slager filed lawsuits against the town on behalf of two men who said they were abused by Driscoll while attending Litchfield Public Schools in the 1980s and 1990s.
Driscoll, a celebrated track, field, and swim coach, passed away in September.
Since his death, at least ten men have come forward claiming they were sexually abused by the coach while in middle school.
Driscoll resigned in 1993 after a Connecticut State Police investigation found probable cause to charge him with third- and fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor, and allowing a person under 16 to operate a motor vehicle.
However, then-State’s Attorney Frank Maco refused to issue an arrest warrant after witnesses declined to testify.
Records obtained by CT Examiner through a public records request show that Litchfield school officials were alerted multiple times about Driscoll’s behavior.
A 1994 letter from then-Board of Education attorney Richard O’Connor warned Driscoll that he violated the terms of his resignation by resuming relationships with students that put administrators in a “difficult position.”
“Although you may construe your activities to be innocent and have voiced facile explanations by way of deflection and avoidance, you plainly are back with the students,” O’Connor wrote.
He urged Driscoll to ensure that students, parents, and administrators understood that he no longer represented the school district at athletic events.
O’Connor also warned that Driscoll had a “predisposition” to engage in conduct that could lead to further claims and investigations.
Despite these warnings, Driscoll continued to participate in school events for years.
In 2013, a letter from an anonymous citizen alerted the school board that Driscoll had served as the head starter for Litchfield High School track meets for seven or eight years.
The author noted that Driscoll had resigned after state police found probable cause to arrest him for sexual abuse and warned school officials of the risk of future claims.
Documents also show that in 1986, a teacher and school nurse reported to administrators that Driscoll had told a student he would “pull down [runners’] pants” if they lagged during races.
Yet Driscoll received spotless performance evaluations, numerous letters of praise, and even a 1992 letter from a former student defending him while the criminal investigation was ongoing.
On Tuesday, Slager filed two lawsuits against the town and the Board of Education on behalf of John Fitterer and Dan Bird, two men who publicly shared their experiences at a community truth and healing event in November.
The lawsuits allege that school officials learned of allegations against Driscoll in the mid-1980s but acted negligently, failing to investigate, suspend, or terminate him.
Instead, officials concealed the complaints and continued to allow Driscoll close contact with students.
“Children were exposed unnecessarily to very significant threats to their well-being as a result of that silence,” Slager told CT Examiner.
He said the lawsuit empowers survivors to speak out and reassures others that coming forward is an act of strength, not shame.
Since Fitterer and Bird were students, the Litchfield Public School system has merged into Region 20 Public Schools.
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Town attorney Michael Rybak and First Selectwoman Denise Raap did not comment on the lawsuits or potential implications for the current school district.
Driscoll also worked as a camp counselor at Wild Goose Camp in Maine, which closed in the 1990s. During the Connecticut investigation, one boy claimed Driscoll had abused him at the camp in 1989.
Maine State Police later opened their own investigation. Directors of the camp told authorities that children sometimes traveled from across the country and the world to attend, raising concerns about possible broader abuse.
Although a Maine prosecutor eventually declined to pursue charges due to the age of the cases and witnesses living out of state, Slager warned that the revelations suggest a wider pattern of abuse beyond Connecticut.
Documents show that even after clear warnings and serious allegations, Litchfield school officials allowed Driscoll to remain active around students for decades.
