The trial phase of a federal civil suit against Pleasant Valley School District, its former superintendent, the high school principal and a teacher accused of showing students photos of nude murder victims and discussing inappropriate sexual matters in class began Monday.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court, Scranton, on May 9, 2007 by William and Patricia Young on behalf of their minor daughter. The suits names the school district, Principal John J. Gress, teacher Bruce H. Smith Jr., and former Superintendent Frank Pullo.In the suit, which asks for an unspecified amount of money for emotional distress, damages and costs, the Youngs argue that 20th century history teacher Bruce H. Smith Jr. allegedly showed the pictures, discussed his college sexual escapades and talked about push-up bras, his personal story of how he lost his virginity and how he caught his mother having sex.Attorney John E. Freund, III of Bethlehem, who represents the defendants, has argued that Smith intended the discussions as "cautionary tales" to help students avoid making the same mistakes he had as a young man.According to the suit, the Youngs in March 2007 complained to Gress, who told Smith to stop and later suspended him for 10 days without pay. But the Youngs also contend in their suit that it was Gress who revealed their identity to Smith. The couple originally filed their suit as "Jane and John Doe."The district ignored their requests to stop Smith, the suit says. The Youngs contend they finally took the matter to the Monroe County District Attorney an action they contend resulted in "retaliatory" actions by the school district and by Smith, which created a hostile environment in the classroom.According to the suit, "Smith himself admitted that he had been showing this material for five years. Smith also taught with his classroom lights off, and had his classroom walls painted black. The school district was aware of what he was showing because he specifically submitted his lesson plans during that time and Principal Gress' daughter was a student."Smith has taught at the high school for more than 10 years, and the Youngs argue that the stress of strong student support of the popular teacher created so much stress and fear for their daughter that the family was forced to move from the area.On Monday, the Young's attorney, Cynthia L. Pollick of Pittston, asked Chief Judge Yvette Kane to deny the defendants' request to exclude testimony of 20 contested witnesses as to the Young's "financial, physical and mental states."The arguments are being heard by Kane at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Harrisburg.