Two former students of a Stamford elementary school have filed lawsuits claiming they were sexually abused and assaulted by a gym teacher more than 30 years ago, joining three others who filed earlier lawsuits against the now-retired teacher.

The latest claims against the Stamford school board and former teacher were filed in Superior Court in Bridgeport, where three other lawsuits are in the discovery phase. All of the lawsuits were filed on behalf of men now in their 40s who attended Rogers School. They claim sexual assaults occurred at the school when they were boys between the ages of 8 and 10, and were committed by the same teacher, Robert Martinez.

The school's principal at the time of the alleged incidents, Edward Mathews, was also named as a defendant in the complaints. One of the suits was filed on behalf of Thomas E. Carter. The other new plaintiff used a pseudonym, Patrick Doe. While each filed their own lawsuits, they seek to recover damages for similar injuries, including emotional distress, low self-esteem, feelings of vulnerability and mistrust, post-traumatic stress symptoms and anxiety.