Does anyone know anything about the true story this was based on? Apparently it was the first case to be sucessfully prosecuted holding a school responsible for failing to protect a student from sexual harrassment. Too bad she didn't press criminal charges.
shareI know this is a couple years after the question was placed, but having actually been in the high school where this took place, I figured I should answer.
While the show wasn't fully based on what happened at my school, you are correct in that the case was successfully prosecuted against the school district.
The girl's real name is Heather Wright. While there are several stories that went around at the time, most everyone is pretty sure that Heather wasn't raped. She had sex with a guy named Josh Blau. Everyone in our grade knew Josh wasn't someone to mess around with. He was voted "Class Bully" for our yearbook. He has an older brother, Chris, who is/was actually a bit worse.
At that time, Heather hung out with what Gen X'ers would call "hoods", which included Josh and Chris, along with a group of similar people. After she had sex with (or was raped by) Josh, it's said that she didn't want to have anything to do with the Blau brothers. In response, Josh and Chris started a smear campaign in school against Heather. This is where the "sexual harassment" and lawsuit against the school district started. Having listened to several contacts in the district that I had, I'm not sure the lawsuit really had any merit. Though I will agree that the principal (Joyce Judas) was quite the bitch to the girls in high school. Us males got away with a lot when she was there.
Personally, I never heard anything about Heather Wright until the lawsuit against the city's school district. Heather is a year or two younger than me, and I really didn't mix with Josh's crowd. Josh did play for our high school football team (nose-tackle on defense), even though he only weighed about 175 pounds. That might give you an idea of his tenacity and ferocity.
On another little side note, I was once out with my best friend looking for girls one night about a year or so after the lawsuit. We got picked up by two girls in a red car and we drove out towards the fast food joints. They went inside to get something to drink and my friend turned towards me and said, "Dude, that's Heather Wright." I had never seen her before then. We both decided to get out of the car and walk back uptown.
What is the name of the high school?
Thanks for sharing, I've been dying to know the true story!
Wow...sounds like Heather Wright has a lot of problems.
CAYLEE MARIE ANTHONY R.I.P. 2005-2008
Mason City High School, Mason City, Iowa.
shareThanks!
I guess it turns out Heather dropped out of high school and the judge overturned the verdict. Clearly not a happy ending.
I think it's interesting that they focus on the city name for a long time "Lockhart, Illinois" But I guess that's a fictional town.
Wow, sounds like you and your school are still in denial. Embarrassing to see a comment like this on a forum for a movie like this.
shareYup! It's the US! Land of the no girl is ever raped by a football hero, home of the every black gangbanger is a saint as soon as they are shot by the police.
Half the people you know are below average.
I don't see what the U.S. severe problem with anti black racism and police brutality has to with a movie about rape culture.
sharejust watched this movie and i loved it.
I am disappointed that the real story wasn't more like the movie.
to anyone else who is interested in this case.
i just did a google search and the case/legal documents are available to read online. here is the link to it
http://www.leagle.com/decision/19962352940FSupp1412_12173.xml/WRIGHT
http://www.leagle.com/decision/19962352940FSupp1412_12173.xml/WRIGHT