A civil lawsuit filed by the parents of a preschooler against a private school has led to the disclosure of an alleged medical privacy breach at a prominent children’s hospital. Court documents reveal a hospital counselor accessed the child’s medical records and discussed them with the school’s principal, who was her sister-in-law. Following these events, the counselor was terminated from her position and the principal departed from the school.
The lawsuit was filed in August 2024 by Roger and Jana Williams against Kehoe-France, a private school in a New Orleans suburb. The couple alleges the school was negligent in its supervision of their three-year-old daughter, who they claim was sexually abused by another student in March 2024. Kehoe-France has denied the allegations.
According to a sworn deposition taken in August as part of the civil litigation, Claire Beaumont Poché, a former licensed professional counselor at the Manning Family Children’s Hospital, acknowledged accessing the Williams’ daughter’s medical chart after the parents took her to the hospital for an examination.
Text messages presented during the deposition show conversations between Claire Poché and Emily France Poché, who was the preschool principal at Kehoe-France at the time. In the messages, Claire Poché appears to share details about the child’s hospital visit and the name of a physician. In one exchange, Emily France Poché texted, “my head of school thinks the dad is abusing her,” to which Claire Poché replied, “I mean it would make sense if he’s being so insane about this. To deflect.”
Roger Williams, a U.S. Army Bronze Star recipient, called the accusation “totally false” and “defamatory” through his attorney, Richard Trahant.
In a letter to the Williams family, the hospital’s operator, LCMC, confirmed that an investigation found an “impermissible disclosure occurred in violation of Children’s express training, policies and procedures.” The letter specified that the fact the child had an appointment, the provider’s identity, and general information about an emergency room visit were disclosed to a third party. The letter stated the individual involved “no longer has access” to LCMC health systems.
During her deposition, Claire Poché confirmed she was “terminated by children’s hospital” for what she was told were code of conduct violations.
On Sept. 4, Kehoe-France announced in an email to its community that Emily France Poché “would no longer serve in the role of preschool principal.” The school did not provide a reason for her departure.
In a statement, an attorney for Emily France Poché said her client would not comment on the deposition or texts, citing a protective order, but that she has “always” made the best interests of her students her “highest priority.” Claire Poché’s attorney noted that his client had turned over additional messages under seal.
Kehoe-France and its parent company, International Schools Partnership, issued statements indicating they disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit and will defend the school through the legal process, adding that “the appropriate forum for resolving these claims is the court.”
The Williams family also advocated for a state law to increase safety regulations at early-childhood education centers. The measure, known as “Charlie’s Law,” was passed by the state legislature and took effect on Aug. 1, 2025. Groups representing private preschools opposed the law, citing compliance costs. Subsequent legislative changes signed by Gov. Jeff Landry exempted some private school programs from certain requirements of the law.
The civil case filed by the Williams family is ongoing.
