School district settles suit over student sex attacks


July 17, 2012 at 8:36a.m.

School district settles suit over student sex attacks

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania district will pay $825,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging elementary school officials did too little to stop an older student from molesting four younger boys.

Allentown School District settled with the four plaintiffs on Monday, a day before their case was to go to trial before a federal judge in Philadelphia.

A judge had called the district’s response to alleged abuse by a 12-year-old student with a history of sexual misconduct “wholly inadequate.” The suit said that boy cornered first- and second-grade students in Central Elementary School bathrooms and assaulted them.

A lawyer for the plaintiffs says the settlement ensures the victims don’t have to relive their experiences.

The assailant was adjudicated delinquent on juvenile charges related to a 2004 assault.