Posted on 06/28/2009 10:09:00 PM PDT by Libloather
Student Awarded $1.25M For Relationship With Teacher
UPDATED: 9:50 pm PDT June 26, 2009
SAN DIEGO -- A jury awarded $1.25 million to a former student at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Paradise Hills because they found that the principal and others failed to report a sexual relationship between the student and her teacher.
Teacher John Kyujoon Lee pleaded guilty to statutory rape back in 2007. But now, the San Diego Unified School District must pay for its role in allowing the sexual relationship between Lee and a former student to go on for nearly three years.
Attorney John Gomez is hoping school districts across San Diego County start changing the way they handle sexual abuse. "School districts do next to nothing to prevent it, [or] to train teachers," he said.
On Monday, Gomez's client, the former School for Creative and Performing Arts student, won a civil suit against both the San Diego Unified School District and Lee. Lee and the student began a sexual relationship her sophmore year.
"She was a very young, naïve, somewhat nerdy kid and was lured into an adult sexual relationship," said Gomez.
The relationship continued until the student graduated in 2006.
Though Lee pleaded guilty to statutory rape and other sex-related charges in 2007, Gomez said the school and district needed to share in the responsibility.
"The two of them had been seen alone in his vehicle. The two of them had been seen alone in his classroom in what was described as a public display of affection," Gomez said. "Kids had gone to the administration complaining about the two of them."
Nothing was ever done, Gomez said. The jury agreed and awarded the student $1.25 million. Gomez said the case was not about the money but rather the message it sends.
"These teachers need a reality check," Gomez said. "And also they need to know that if they suspect anything at all they don't stand around the water cooler talking about it -- they go to the police, they go to CPS, they do the right thing."
The mother of the student said she was too overwhelmed and emotional to talk on camera.
The school district's attorney said they are disappointed with the verdict and deny any teachers or administrators ever knew about the relationship. They are now considering an appeal.
Because as a parent, when I send my daughter to school I expect the school department to act in place of the parent.
If the school was not complicit in the sexual relationship (knowing about it and not reporting it) the settlement would not have been as high.
They knew about the relationship and did not report it. They should all be sued individually as well. Then they should be boiled alive. They are supposed to protect our children, not screw them and cover it up.
This is one case where the amount could not be high enough.
And by act as a parent, I mean act in place of the the parent to insure safety and protection from harm—this is not an “abrogate responsibility” rant. This has nothing to do with “teaching”, it has to do with physical protection from harm.
A well reasoned answer.
Our schools are NOT private (free) whore houses for teachers. The teacher should be shot.
I’d like to see a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit against the NEA for all these predatory teachers. To my knowledge the NEA does not have a program or a screening process for their membership when it comes to things like this. They are obviously culpable because the majority of these teachers are NEA members. Any lawyers out there listening?
You're right. Each one of them should be sued. Our schools are NOT private (free) whore houses for "teachers".
What about "teachers" colleges? Are they teaching ethics classes?
Are background checks being done? Private enterprise checks for psychopaths - is the school system doing the same? And if not - they should also be sued. Collectively and individually.
Our schools aren't free private whore houses for "teachers". Sue 'em, lock 'em up and throw away the key.
I concur... Let’s also look into where these teachers used to work and why they moved. There is probably a recidivism with some of them - moved to shut up the parents and pass the problem on to the next district.
Then sue the schools they came from too. It’s the only thing the “education establishment” cares about - money.
And it would drain some of the money out of the teachers’ union.
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