Last Updated: March 2026
Aidan Romain, an 18-year-old former star water polo player at an elite Los Angeles prep school – Harvard-Westlake Academy – has courageously come forward alleging horrific instance of repeated sexual abuse and harassment at the hands of a former teammate.
Harvard-Westlake Academy, a well-known Los Angeles private school, is now facing serious legal scrutiny – not just for the abuse a student allegedly suffered within its walls, but for what the school allegedly chose to do about it: nothing.
In a civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Aidan Romain alleges that he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by teammates on the school’s water polo team – and that school officials knew, failed to act, and may have actively retaliated against him when he spoke out.
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse at a private school in California – especially when staff or administrators failed to intervene – you are not alone, and you are not without options. The Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys at Dordulian Law Group are here to help survivors pursue justice and accountability.
The plaintiff, Aidan Romain, now 18, was a member of Harvard-Westlake’s water polo program. According to the complaint, he was subjected to repeated sexual assault by teammates – including digital penetration – between August 2022 and February 2024. The alleged abuse occurred on campus and in school facilities, often, according to the lawsuit, in the presence of school staff and employees.
The lawsuit alleges that the assault was not an isolated incident – it was a sustained pattern of abuse. Romain also alleges that teammates subjected him to racial abuse on a near-daily basis for approximately five months, including the use of racial slurs and racially charged physical harassment.
But what sets this case apart – and what makes it particularly significant for other survivors – is what allegedly happened after Romain reported the abuse.
According to the complaint, Romain came forward and reported the sexual assault to Harvard-Westlake school officials. What followed, he alleges, was a profound institutional failure.
The lawsuit claims the school:
This type of institutional betrayal – where a school prioritizes its reputation over the safety and wellbeing of students – is both a legal violation and a deeply personal wound for survivors. California law requires schools, coaches, administrators, and other school personnel to report suspected child abuse to law enforcement or child protective services. Failure to do so as a mandated reporter is not just an ethical failure; it can be grounds for significant civil liability.
Harvard-Westlake has disputed many of the allegations, stating that it investigated reports of inappropriate behavior and complied with its mandatory reporting obligations. Those factual disputes will be resolved through the legal process. What matters for other survivors reading this is that you have the right to hold institutions accountable when they fail to protect you.
“I Thought I Had to Endure It”
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Romain described feeling trapped – believing that speaking out would cost him his athletic career and his dreams of playing Division I water polo and competing professionally.
“I want to play D1 in college,” he said. “I want to play professionally in Europe. I didn’t think that I would be able to achieve any of my dreams if I wasn’t playing water polo at Harvard-Westlake. And so I thought that I just kind of had to endure it.”
This experience is far from unique. Survivors of sexual assault – particularly young people in competitive athletic or academic environments – often feel that reporting abuse will destroy the future they’ve worked so hard to build. The pressure to stay silent, to protect the team, or to avoid rocking the boat at an elite institution is real and immense.
It should never be that way. No student should be forced to choose between their safety and their ambitions.
Elite private schools like Harvard-Westlake operate with a great deal of autonomy, and students and families often place significant trust in these institutions. That trust creates a unique vulnerability. When abuse occurs within a private school setting, survivors may face:
Private schools have the same legal obligations to protect students as any other educational institution. When they fail – and especially when they take steps to conceal abuse or silence survivors – they can be held civilly liable for the harm caused.
If you or your child experienced sexual abuse at a private or public school, do not assume the school’s denials end the story. They don’t. A qualified sexual abuse attorney can help you understand what happened, what the law requires, and what options you have.
California has some of the most protective laws for survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the country.
Under California AB 452, signed into law in 2023, there is no statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2024. Under the landmark legislation of California AB 452, this means that for abuse happening now or in the future, survivors will never lose the right to seek civil justice simply because time has passed.
For abuse that occurred before January 1, 2024, California still provides extended filing windows that go beyond what most states allow – typically until a survivor’s 40th birthday (although there are some exceptions beyond that date for specific discovery of emotional injury). If you are unsure whether the statute of limitations applies to your situation, do not wait to find out. Speaking with a California sexual abuse lawyer as soon as possible is the best way to protect your rights.
In cases involving institutional abuse – like a school that allegedly failed to report and respond to assault – survivors may have legal claims against the institution itself, not just the individual perpetrator. This is critical, because institutions often have far greater resources and insurance coverage than individual defendants, and holding them accountable sends a message that change is necessary.
The Harvard-Westlake case highlights a pattern that, unfortunately, is not uncommon in institutional sexual abuse cases. If any of the following sound familiar, it may be worth speaking with a sexual abuse attorney:
These are potential indicators that an institution prioritized self-protection over your safety – and that is something a skilled sexual abuse attorney can help you address.
At Dordulian Law Group, we understand that reaching out for help takes extraordinary courage. Our founder, Sam Dordulian, is a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County with over 100 jury trial victories. He built his career protecting victims – first in the courtroom as a prosecutor, and now as one of California’s most respected civil sexual abuse attorneys.
Our dedicated four-tiered SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts) works exclusively on sexual abuse and assault cases:
We know how institutions think, how they cover their tracks, and how to hold them accountable.
Our firm has:
When other firms hesitate, DLG fights. We will stand beside you every step of the way – not just as your legal team, but as advocates who believe you, who take your case seriously, and who will not stop until justice is served.
To Aidan Romain and every survivor who has felt silenced, dismissed, or punished for speaking the truth: your courage matters. Your story matters. And your legal rights matter.
If you or someone you love has experienced sexual abuse at a school – or at any institution that failed to protect you – we want to hear from you. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win your case.
Contact Dordulian Law Group today for a free, confidential consultation with a member of our SAJE Team. You can also reach us by phone at (866) GO-SEE-SAM. We serve survivors throughout Los Angeles, Southern California, and across the state.
You don’t have to endure this alone. We are ready to fight for you.
Dordulian Law Group represents survivors of sexual abuse and assault throughout California. Our sexual assault attorneys handle cases involving schools, institutions, coaches, employers, and other defendants. If you believe you have a claim, please contact us at (866) GO-SEE-SAM or visit our contact page to get started.
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