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Tamalpais Union High School District pays $17.5 million to settle four sexual abuse claims
The law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard reports that the Tamalpais Union School District has paid $17.5 million to four sexual abuse victims of former tennis coach Normandie Burgos. The settlement includes $11.5 million to A.H. (Marin County Superior Court, Case No. CIV2001133), which puts closure to his long journey for justice.
In 2022, a Marin County jury found the school district liable for failing to protect A.H. from Burgos. The settlement amount also includes over $1 million in interest since the District unsuccessfully appealed the $10 million jury verdict.
The settlement also resolves three other lawsuits filed by two former Tam High students and a former tennis player who received private tennis lesson from Burgos at Tamalpais High School. John Doe was one of Burgos’s earliest victims and will receive $4.5 million. Doe claimed he was raped and sodomized multiple times by Burgos starting in the 1999-2000 school year while Burgos was still a probationary employee and not protected by tenure.
“From the testimony of Doe, we learned that none of these men should have ever been abused,” attorney Mark Boskovich said. Under oath, Doe stated that a school administrator witnessed Burgos engaged in sexual misconduct with him. Instead of intervening or reporting the incident as required, the administrator made a joke about the situation and left without taking any action.”
In 2022, a Marin County jury found the school district liable for failing to protect A.H. from Burgos. The settlement amount also includes over $1 million in interest since the District unsuccessfully appealed the $10 million jury verdict.
The settlement also resolves three other lawsuits filed by two former Tam High students and a former tennis player who received private tennis lesson from Burgos at Tamalpais High School. John Doe was one of Burgos’s earliest victims and will receive $4.5 million. Doe claimed he was raped and sodomized multiple times by Burgos starting in the 1999-2000 school year while Burgos was still a probationary employee and not protected by tenure.
“From the testimony of Doe, we learned that none of these men should have ever been abused,” attorney Mark Boskovich said. Under oath, Doe stated that a school administrator witnessed Burgos engaged in sexual misconduct with him. Instead of intervening or reporting the incident as required, the administrator made a joke about the situation and left without taking any action.”
“There is no doubt that Burgos was enabled and emboldened to sexually abuse students,” attorney Robert Allard said. “Let’s hope that this District and others around the state learn that protecting students is more important than protecting their brethren teachers and coaches.”
In a lawsuit filed in 2023 (Marin County Superior Court, Case No. CIV2204358), Doe 2 and Doe 3 claimed they were sexually assaulted in the 2000-2001 school year under the guise of Burgos performing “body fat tests”. Both men will each receive $750,000.
The case also underscores the long-lasting impact of sexual abuse on victims. The substantial settlement amounts reflect not only the severity of the abuse but also the school district's failure to prevent it, despite early warning signs.
“These men have gone through life-changing moments over the years,” Boskovich said. “They have contemplated suicide. They have turned to drugs and alcohol to mask and hide the pain. Relationships have been ruined. Shame and low-esteem have been a constant in their lives.”
Burgos abused many students under the guise of conducting body fat tests. Instead of conducting the tests in public by measuring the back of a student’s arm, Burgos would privately take students into his office, have them lay on a massage table, remove clothing and abuse them.
Burgos was finally brought to justice in 2019, when he was criminally convicted of 60 counts of sexual abuse. He is now serving a 255-year prison sentence.
In a lawsuit filed in 2023 (Marin County Superior Court, Case No. CIV2204358), Doe 2 and Doe 3 claimed they were sexually assaulted in the 2000-2001 school year under the guise of Burgos performing “body fat tests”. Both men will each receive $750,000.
The case also underscores the long-lasting impact of sexual abuse on victims. The substantial settlement amounts reflect not only the severity of the abuse but also the school district's failure to prevent it, despite early warning signs.
“These men have gone through life-changing moments over the years,” Boskovich said. “They have contemplated suicide. They have turned to drugs and alcohol to mask and hide the pain. Relationships have been ruined. Shame and low-esteem have been a constant in their lives.”
Burgos abused many students under the guise of conducting body fat tests. Instead of conducting the tests in public by measuring the back of a student’s arm, Burgos would privately take students into his office, have them lay on a massage table, remove clothing and abuse them.
Burgos was finally brought to justice in 2019, when he was criminally convicted of 60 counts of sexual abuse. He is now serving a 255-year prison sentence.
