$2.5 Million Judgment in Sex Abuse Case Against Former Loring Owner

The onetime owner of the Loring Pasta Bar and the Varisity Theater has apparently fled to Mexico in the midst of sexual abuse charges stemming from his time with the Children’s Theater Company. Jason McLean had five sexual-abuse lawsuits filed against him from his time as a teacher and actor with the CTC.

The Star Tribune reports that after failing to appear in court, a judge made a $2.5 million judgement against McLean stemming from one of the charges from a 1983 incident.

McLean was served with the lawsuit in Oakland, Calif., where he owned two restaurants, a now-shuttered Loring location and a place called Small Wonder.

In the suit McLean is charged “in multiple instances McLean inflicted harmful, offensive and unpermitted sexual contact” in the late summer and fall of 1983. He was then a 29 year old teacher to the 15 year old victim.

Attorney Molly Burke an attorney with Jeff Anderson & Associates, represents all five of the plaintiffs and says McLean has fled to Cabo San Lucas in Baja California, Mexico where it’s reported he is in negotiations to buy a million dollar property.

The Loring Pasta Bar was recently purchased by employees of the restaurant, who remodeled and re-opened it as Loring Bar & Restaurant. The newspaper reports that its tax evaluation of $1.5 million and that the Varsity sold for $2.5 million.

Update: An earlier version of this article failed to identify the firm representing the victims.

• Jason McLean ordered to pay $2.5M in Children's Theatre case [STRIB]
• Jason McLean hit with $2.5 million judgment in sexual abuse case [CP]
• Recently Closed Loring Pasta Bar to Relaunch Under Employee Ownership [ETC]