Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP Obtains $26 Million Verdict for Special Education Student Sexually Assaulted by Classmates in Pasadena Unified School District

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury has delivered a $26,000,000 verdict for a former Pasadena Unified School District special education student who was sexually assaulted at school by three of her male classmates. Plaintiff was represented in the case and at trial by attorneys David Rudorfer and Wyatt Vespermann of Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP. Plaintiff was also represented in the matter by co-counsel, Sheri E. Manuwal and Robert I. Manuwal of Manuwal & Manuwal. The verdict was rendered on Tuesday, August 23rd before the Honorable Patrick T. Madden in Department S28 at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Long Beach, California.

Plaintiff was an 11-year-old student in the special education program for emotionally disturbed children at Focus Point Academy during the 2015-2016 school year — a program staffed, funded and operated by the Pasadena Unified School District. On May 17, 2016, a teacher's aide was tasked with supervising Plaintiff but instead left her unsupervised with three male classmates who dragged her behind a building and sexually assaulted her.

Despite significant evidence supporting that the assault occurred, the Pasadena Unified School District denied the attack took place, denied the School District's negligence, and fought for more than five years to deny Plaintiff justice. As a result of the sexual assault, the Plaintiff eventually was institutionalized.

At trial, in addition to denying that the sexual assault had occurred, the defense argued that the Plaintiff suffered no damages as a result of the School District's conduct and that the jury should award her nothing. The jury disagreed and awarded the Plaintiff $12,500,000 for her past pain and suffering and $13,500,000 for her future pain and suffering.

"This verdict demonstrates that all children, regardless of their disabilities, deserve to be protected," said trial counsel David Rudorfer.

Defendant Pasadena Unified School District was represented in the matter and at trial by Nancy Doumanian of Doumanian & Associates.

Jane Doe v. Pasadena Unified School District
Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, Long Beach
Case No. BC662842
Hon. Patrick T. Madden

About Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP

Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm representing plaintiffs in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, sexual abuse/assault, product liability, mass torts, and business litigation cases. With offices in California and Nevada, firm attorneys are repeatedly recognized for their excellence by other trial attorneys, legal organizations and publications nationwide and have dedicated themselves to obtaining justice for clients who are often dealing with a life-altering injury, death of a family member or other challenges caused by the wrongful act of another. With this mission at the heart of its work, the firm has a proven track record of obtaining significant, and often record-breaking verdicts for our clients. Learn more about our work and our attorneys at psbr.law