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As part of the $8.25 million settlement with three child sex abuse victims, the Morgan Hill Unified School District is also moving forward in implementing and supporting programs aimed at preventing the sexual abuse of students.
The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard announced that the Morgan Hill Unified School District agreed to pay $8.25 million to three then-elementary school students sexually abused by former teacher John Loyd. At the same time, complying with the wishes of the victims’ parents, the district is also moving forward to carry out child sexual abuse prevention programs.
The agreement was reached as jury selection was about to start in the sexual abuse lawsuit (case #115CV285795 – Santa Clara County Superior Court) against the school district. The three children were represented by attorneys Robert Allard, Lauren Cerri, Ken Turek, and Christopher Schumb.
“The child sexual abuse prevention programs were imperative to the parents of these children,” said Allard. “Contrary to industry standards concerning training of employees and its Board mandate concerning training of students, this school district failed to provide sex abuse prevention training to both its employees and to its students. This pedophile teacher consistently demonstrated classic ‘red flag’ behavior before molesting these children inside his classroom during and recess periods. Had this District implemented basic training on this ‘red flag’ conduct, this entire tragedy could have been avoided,” added Allard.
The District is directing its staff to implement predator identification training as part of their mandatory reporter training along with establishing a child abuse prevention curriculum for students.
“With proper training and increased awareness about this childhood sexual abuse epidemic which continues to afflict our schools, these families can and will make a difference in the lives of countless students,” said Turek.
In California, all monetary settlements to minors are protected by the courts which means that a judge must approve all expenditures thus avoiding the misuse of money.
