Jury awards $3.5 million to families of victims in suburban Chicago band teacher abuse lawsuit
By APFriday, July 9, 2010
Families win $3.5M in Ill. band teacher abuse suit
CHICAGO — A federal jury has awarded $3.5 million to the families of nine girls who say they were sexually abused by a suburban Chicago band teacher.
The families sued former teacher Robert Sperlik, South Berwyn School District 100 and the former principal at the school where Sperlik taught.
In 2006, Sperlik pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse and kidnapping of more than 20 girls. He’s currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The lawsuit claimed the principal knew about the abuse and intentionally hid information about the allegations. The families also claimed the district failed to uphold its responsibilities to the victims.
Thomas DiCianni, lead counsel for the school district, said the verdict was disappointing and “somewhat extreme, given the circumstances.”
