LOS ANGELES (LA TIMES)- As the Los Angeles Unified School District tries to settle claims filed in connection with a teacher who allegedly molested children at Miramonte Elementary School, a jury awarded $6.9 million to another district student in a separate sexual abuse case.
The size of verdict — among the largest ever awarded in a district molestation case – suggests L.A. Unified could end up paying a large amount of money to wrap up the close to 200 pending legal claims related to the Miramonte teacher.
Lawyers for L.A. Unified recently announced the district intends to settle the Miramonte claims by the end of January. The claims accuse the district of not doing enough to protect students from veteran instructor Mark Berndt, even after fielding complaints about inappropriate conduct at the school.
Berndt, who has been charged with 23 counts of lewd conduct, is accused of spoon-feeding semen to blindfolded children as part of what he allegedly called a tasting game. He’s also accused of putting cockroaches on children’s faces and feeding them semen-tainted cookies.
READ MORE: LA TIMES
4 Comments to “Miramonte Sex Abuse Case Could Cost LAUSD Millions”
December 19, 2012 at 1:33 PM
cut teachers pay n take away there pensions n have calpers return the money they stole from the tax payers , fire bad teachers. the cure is simple
December 19, 2012 at 4:17 PM
up to I saw the check saying $4136, I have faith that my sister woz actualie taking home money in there spare time on their apple laptop.. there neighbour has been doing this less than 15 months and just now took care of the mortgage on there villa and bourt a gorgeous Citroën 2CV. this is where I went,……. BIT40.ℂOℳ
December 19, 2012 at 9:46 PM
The district should not be responsible for the act of a sick individual. They had no knowledge of his behavior. Taking millions away from the district only hurts the other students it must serve. The district should provide counseling for affected students, that's it.
January 31, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Thats wrong