D-207 Criticizes Lawyer in Hazing Lawsuit

Maine Township High School District 207 criticized a statement made by a lawyer in a hazing lawsuit regarding its agreement with a former employee.

Michael Divincenzo, a former Maine West High School teacher and soccer coach fired over hazing allegations, dropped his appeal of the termination and agreed to cooperate with Maine Township High School District 207 in its defense of a lawsuit, D-207 stated on Monday.

Antonio Romanucci the lawyer representing current and former Maine West High School students in a hazing lawsuit filed against district employees including Divincenzo, another former teacher and soccer coach and the principal at Maine West.

“What once was an adversarial proceeding between Maine West and Coach Divo has now evolved into a comfortable relationship where a back deal was made to continue benefits for the coach who allowed victims to be sexually assaulted and for him to cooperate in the pending lawsuit — meaning that the district and the coach can now cooperate in further covering up and denying the continued allegations,” Romanucci stated.

D-207 fired back at Romanucci, “Mr. Romanucci’s April 2 statement, like many of his previous statements and press conferences, is inaccurate and self-serving.”

When asked to clarify what was inaccurate in Romanucci’s statement, David Beery, spokesperson for D-207, stated in an email to Patch, the district would not expand on the statement or say anything beyond what it states.

D-207 stated it stood by the statement about the agreement between the district and Divincenzo, made by Sean Sullivan, board of education president, at the meeting on Monday. A copy of D-207’s response to Romanucci is posted with this story; .

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