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A jury in New Jersey has awarded $30 million to a man who said he was sexually abused for years by a teacher while attending a public school in Newark, holding both the Newark Board of Education and the City of Newark liable for failing to protect him, The New York Times reported last week.
The verdict is believed to be the largest school related sexual abuse award in the state since New Jersey expanded its statute of limitations in 2019 to allow older survivors to bring civil claims.
The plaintiff, now 44, testified that the abuse occurred repeatedly during the 1990s while he was enrolled in an after school program at the Ann Street School in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood. According to testimony, the abuse often took place in a small office near the school gym while other children were nearby. The victim was approximately 9 years old when the abuse began and said it continued over several years.
Jurors found that the teacher who ran the after school program abused the student hundreds of times during that period. The jury also found that institutional failures allowed the abuse to continue unchecked. At one point, the child reported inappropriate behavior to another teacher, but no report was made and no action was taken to investigate or stop the conduct. The jury determined that this failure to report contributed to the harm.
The verdict assigned 70 percent liability to the Newark Board of Education, 20 percent to the City of Newark, and 10 percent to the estate of the teacher, who died by suicide in 1995. The victim’s name has not been publicly disclosed. The teacher was a well known figure in the community and had longstanding involvement in youth programs.
The jury’s decision followed testimony that the victim came from a family of Portuguese immigrants who did not speak English and relied heavily on school staff for guidance and support. Attorneys argued that the teacher exploited that trust, positioning himself as a caregiver and authority figure in the child’s life.
The abuse ended when the victim was in seventh grade. Several months later, another child reported abuse by the same teacher, prompting a police report. The following day, the teacher took his own life.
In statements following the verdict, representatives for the Newark Board of Education said the district is committed to student safety and does not tolerate inappropriate conduct toward children. City officials said they strongly condemn sexual abuse but intend to appeal the verdict. The defendants had previously denied wrongdoing and disputed liability.
One of the plaintiff’s attorneys said the case was never meaningfully addressed before trial and that early settlement offers were rejected. Jurors deliberated for approximately two hours before returning the verdict, underscoring the strength of the evidence presented.
The case highlights how expanded statute of limitations laws have allowed survivors of childhood sexual abuse to seek accountability decades later, particularly in cases involving schools and other institutions entrusted with child safety.
Learn More About Institutional Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse connected to a school, youth program, or other organization, you can learn more about institutional sexual abuse lawsuits and your legal options here: Institutional Sexual Abuse Lawsuits.
