An Alachua County circuit judge has dismissed all three counts against the city of Alachua and the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC). The judge stated that the mother who sued for sexual harassment on her daughter’s behalf did not have grounds for a civil case. 

The Santa Fe High School parent alleged that baseball coach and media specialist Travis Yeckring sexually harassed her daughter and that the SBAC and city—through its school resource officers—had a duty of care that they failed to uphold. 

The parent filed suit with attorney Bobi J. Frank in October 2024, and after both government entities filed motions to dismiss the case in December, Frank filed an amended complaint with clarified counts divided between the defendants. 

The judge for the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Donna M. Keim, filed an order granting the city of Alachua’s motion to dismiss on March 31, followed by an order granting the SBAC’s motion to dismiss on April 1. 

Keim noted that the plaintiff’s theory of negligence per se against the city does not identify any particular city employee or employees who may have been negligent and does not specify what knowledge was provided to them regarding the alleged abuse. 

But beyond what the judge labeled as “pleading deficiencies,” Keim said the plaintiff failed to create a civil cause of action, as a failure to report child abuse in line with Florida Statutes Chapter 39 is a criminal action. 

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting a separate, criminal investigation into the matter. 

Keim dismissed the count against the city with prejudice, meaning the plaintiff cannot refile the same claim again in that court. 

The judge’s order of dismissal for the two counts against the school board were split in their prejudice. 

On Count 1, claiming negligent supervision, Keim wrote that details such as dates, cause of action and damages are unclear, and the claims are insufficient to qualify for the impact rule, which allows suit for mental or emotional distress that cause physical injury. 

Regarding Count 2, negligence per se, the judge used the same reasoning to determine a lack of civil cause of action, stating that the plaintiff’s reliance on F.S. Chapter 39 is incorrect, as failure to comply is a criminal action, not grounds for a civil suit. 

Keim dismissed Count 1 without prejudice, giving the defendant 10 days to file an amended complaint if desired, but with a bleak outlook: 

“The Court believes additional amendment of the Complaint is likely futile as the detailed facts previously alleged clearly fail to state a cause of action against this Defendant due to the impact rule.” 

The judge dismissed Count 2 with prejudice, stating that “leave to amend would be futile.”