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Michael Begin, Greater Clark Schools targeted in negligence lawsuit

The family of one of 17 girls allegedly molested by an Indiana teenager has filed a civil suit.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WHAS11) -- The family of one of 17 little girls allegedly molested by a Jeffersonville teenager, has now filed a civil lawsuit.

Eighteen-year-old Michael Begin was a teacher's assistant and worked at an Indiana YMCA, when the alleged abuse happened.

Now he and Greater Clark Community Schools are facing a lawsuit.

While more suits aimed at Begin and Greater Clark Schools may be on the way attorney Karl Truman, who was the first to file suit, says his client simply wants to make sure that processes are in place so this never happens again.

RELATED: Teen facing felony charges for child molestation case

"This case is about changing behavior,” said Truman.

In filing suit against Michael Begin and Greater Clark Community Schools attorney Karl Truman says he's trying to protect kids like his 6-year-old client who he says is one of the 17 victims police say were sexually assaulted at Thomas Jefferson Elementary and Clark County Family YMCA.

"What we want to make sure is that when you drop your child off at school you can rest assured that they're looking out for your child,” said Truman. "The most important aspect is to make sure that the school has regulations and procedures in place to protect these young children, these vulnerable children.”

Greater Clark previously released a statement saying that they have done their due diligence to make sure procedures are in place for the program and that they've had many students participate over the years that have positively represented the program.

"This 18-year-old man shouldn't have been placed with this 6-year-old girl basically unaccounted for unsupervised,” said Truman. "My client isn't the only one that this has happened to with this particular individual. There were school employees who already knew about prior allegations against this perpetrator. They should've taken action. They should've alerted someone."

While Truman maintains the suit is about making a positive change in Greater Clark Schools it also has a financial component.

Under Indiana law Truman can seek as much as $700,000 for his client from Greater Clark Community Schools.

"That's what gets their attention is to be held financially accountable,” said Truman.

WHAS11 reached out to the legal representation for Greater Clark for comment on this story, but they said they had yet to receive a copy of the lawsuit in question.

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