Aidan Romain filed a lawsuit on February 27, 2024, in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to the Daily Mail. The lawsuit accuses Harvard-Westlake School, its president Richard Commons, the head of the boys’ water polo program Jack Grover, and former teammate Lucca van der Woude of allowing a 'culture of harassment'. The lawsuit alleges that Aidan Romain was sexually assaulted and racially harassed by teammates for years.
The abuse began in August 2022 when Aidan Romain was 14 years old. The alleged harassment lasted through January 2024. According to the lawsuit, Lucca van der Woude allegedly digitally penetrated Aidan Romain underwater during his first practice.
The alleged harassment involved forcibly and without consent touching Romain’s genitals in locations around campus, including the pool, locker room, showers, weight room, and a staircase. Aidan Romain endured racial slurs, racially-charged comments, and racist attacks by his teammates. The lawsuit claims that school officials ignored or minimized reports of abuse to protect the team and its star player, Lucca van der Woude.
He was sexually assaulted by an older teammate, Lucca van der Woude, who digitally penetrated him underwater.
The lawsuit alleges that despite repeated disclosures of sexual assault, the school failed to report the abuse, failed to remove the perpetrator, and instead retaliated against the victim. Harvard-Westlake School disputes many of the allegations in the lawsuit, stating they mischaracterize facts and the school’s actions. ' Harvard-Westlake School treated reports of inappropriate behavior with urgency and seriousness, promptly initiating an investigation and complying with mandatory reporting obligations.
' Harvard-Westlake School cooperated completely with law enforcement. ' Lucca van der Woude denies each and every allegation made against him. Lucca van der Woude has conducted himself with integrity throughout his academic and athletic career.
' The Daily Mail reported that Lucca van der Woude was arrested in February 2024. The specific actions Harvard-Westlake School took during its investigation into the water polo program have not been detailed publicly. The current legal status of Lucca van der Woude's arrest mentioned by the Daily Mail is unclear.
Despite repeated, direct disclosures of sexual assault, the school failed to report the abuse, failed to remove the perpetrator, and instead retaliated against the victim.
Harvard-Westlake School is among the top five private schools in the Los Angeles area, with a tuition of $54,900 a year. Lucca van der Woude's father, Thomas Bastian van der Woude, has a Hollywood career as a first or second assistant director on films such as Oceans 11, Star Trek, Fast and Furious 5, and others. Aidan Romain's father, Alex Romain, is a partner at the law firm Jenner & Block with billions of dollars in litigation victories.
Aidan Romain's mother, Melissa Spence Romain, is secretary of the board of the IAMA Theatre Company in LA. It is unknown how many other students or teammates may have been involved in or witnessed the alleged harassment. The lawsuit presents a stark contradiction regarding the school's response.
On one side, the school asserts it acted properly by investigating and reporting. On the other, the lawsuit alleges systemic failure and retaliation. Similarly, Lucca van der Woude's blanket denial conflicts directly with the graphic and specific allegations of sexual assault and racial harassment detailed in the civil complaint.
The case highlights tensions at an elite institution as it navigates serious allegations against a member of its athletic program.