Valley School District settles molestation case
The family of one of two alleged unidentified victims reached a final settlement in a child abuse case involving a former local teacher.
Attorney Ben Meiselas from famed Los Angeles law firm Geragos & Geragos confirmed to CBS Local 2 that the Honorable James Latting approved the settlement on Friday.
In a statement Meiselas said “The family of (the victim) has obtained justice and closure in the civil case. Of course, there is nothing that will undo the torment caused to our client, however this resolution was a significant result for her and her family who have fought admirably for this result. It was a honor representing the family.”
Meiselas declined to state the exact amount of the judgement, but court records obtained by CBS Local 2 show the victim will receive $650,000, less attorney’s fees, court costs and medical bills.
The suit was filed in January of 2013 against former Gerald Ford Elementary School teacher Robert Keith Bryan, the Desert Sands Unified School District, and the school principal.
History of inappropriate behavior?
The families claimed the school and district knew Bryan had a problem with inappropriate behavior with female students, but allowed him to continue teaching and be unsupervised with young female students.
Court documents claim from September 2011 to June 2012, Bryan “would remove (plaintiff) from her normal lunch and recess schedules where he would meet privately with Plaintiff, with the classroom door closed. Once alone with Plaintiff, Defendant Bryan would put his hands down Plaintiff’s pants and underwear and place his hands underneath her shirt.”
The documents claim Bryan was the subject of at least two administrative investigations at DSUSD, one of which resulted in a ten-day suspension.
District Response
In response to the judgement, Mary Perry, public information officer for DSUSD said “Desert Sands Unified School District, at the recommendation of legal counsel, has agreed to a financial settlement. The district has done so in an effort to not take the matter to trial, an emotionally and financially difficult process especially for the family.”
Perry added that does not mean the district is accepting the claims as “true.”
The 62-year-old Bryan is accused of molesting 8 children, although Meiselas said there were close to 12 potential victims.
Meiselas said immediately after the alleged incidents the victim moved out of the area with her family and is currently attending another school. “They understandably, did not want to be at a location where (the abuse) occurred.” The settlement claims she suffered severe psychological injuries as a result of the molestation and “no longer feels comfortable with any male teachers or authoritative figures,” and completed more than 30 hours of counseling.
Ongoing cases
Attorney David Ring, of Los Angeles law firm Taylor & Ring, represents the other alleged victim. He said the case against DSUSD, Bryan and former Gerald Ford Elementary Principal Theresa Kachiroubas will resume when Bryan’s criminal trial concludes.
“We did not feel the settlement offer was appropriate,” Ring told CBS Local 2 via e-mail. “So we are going to proceed to a jury trial where (the jury) will hear all of the facts about the school district’s negligence.”
A judge ruled that there was enough evidence for Bryan to stand trial on 17 criminal counts following a preliminary hearing in October of 2013.
The charges include 12 felony counts of committing a lewd act with a child and five misdemeanor counts of molesting a child.
He was arrested in August of 2012 at his home in Palm Desert and is scheduled to go to trial February 8 in Indio.
The Desert Sands Educational Foundation currently shows Theresa Kachiroubas is working as part of its public relations team.
