Madison School Officials Reach Settlement in Sex Assault Lawsuit

Lawyers representing the Madison Board of Education have agreed to settle a lawsuit involving a former student, the Madison Source reports via the AP.

The lawsuit accuses school officials of allowing boys accused of sexually assaulting a female student to remain at Polson Middle School, traumatizing the girl. According to the lawsuit, Madison school officials “took no disciplinary action whatsoever against the assailants and allowed them to remain in school, participate in sports and ski bus and other activities until they voluntarily withdrew approximately eight weeks after the assault and after they were arrested.”

The lawsuit also said that a male student who took pictures during the assault and showed the photographs to other students at Polson was allowed to remain in school with only a one-week suspension and he finished out the year at Polson Middle School.

The suit further states that when the victim attended Daniel Hand High School, she was forced to leave the high school as the school allowed the photographer to remain in the girl’s classes. The school also allowed one of the assailants to to register for high school that fall, attend classes, and participate in athletic events.

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Lawsuit: School System Failed To Protect Sexual Assault Victim From Harassment

According to the Source, a settlement was reached in Hartford federal court last week that is pending approval by the school board.

The suit sought compensatory damages, attorney fees, and costs.

The boys were convicted in juvenile court of molesting the girl, an eighth grader at the time, at a New Year’ Eve party in 2009 at a private residence while she was intoxicated, the Source reports. 

Read more at The Source.

More Patch Stories:

• Madison School Board Comments on ‘Disturbing’ Sexual Assault Allegations
• Hand High School in the Spotlight Over Sex Assault Probe
• Update: Teacher Accused of Sexually Assaulting a Madison Student

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