Teen Affair with Teacher - Reaults in $9.2M Verdict

A Dallas, Texas jury has awarded $9.2 million to a teen who was forced to leave a religious school after her sexual affair with a male teacher was made public.

The girl was 16 and the teacher was 34 when police found them in a car together in 2009. Her parents sued the school, saying that they did not do enough to protect the student from the teacher. The teacher resigned and faces criminal charges, but the student was forced to move to another school, where she later graduated.

Child abuse is an insidious type of crime where the victims are, for many reasons unable to, or are fearful of confronting or reporting the perpetrator to authorities. Instead of protecting her, as teachers are expected to do, he robbed this child of her innocence. Children are vulnerable and deserve our protection from those who would take such wicked advantage of them.

Currently, there are many attempts under way to remedy the underlying causes of child abuse, but, until it is eliminated states have unanimously responded with laws specifically designed to identify and punish child abusers.

Under the laws of many states, third parties with knowledge of, and reasonable cause to believe that abuse has occurred, are under a legal obligation to report the situation to the authorities.

Alabama law states that, any harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare through non-accidental physical or mental injury or sexual abuse/exploitation constitutes abuse AND all hospitals, clinics, sanitariums, doctors, medical examiners, dentists, chiropractors, nurses, school teachers and officials, pharmacists, law enforcement officers, social workers, day care workers, mental health professionals, members of the clergy unless privileged communication, or anyone else called upon to render aid or medical assistance to any child must do so. Additionally, knowingly failing to report is also against the law.

The jury sent a message that the community will not tolerate a school mistreating a student that was a sexual victim. If you or a loved one have fallen victim to treatment like this, contact us at Linton & Associates for a free evaluation. We will fight for you and ensure that those accountable are held responsible.

My name is Christopher S. Linton, Attorney at Linton and Associates Law Firm in Birmingham, Alabama. We specialize in Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Premises and Product Liability, Auto Accidents and Infant Injury and Death.

Keywords: Child Abuse, Teacher Crimes, Alabama Code 26-14-1, Settlements, Alabama Personal Injury Attorney