LAMB Sued for $20M by 2 families of sexual abuse victims

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth didn't they install security cameras in the basement and other areas in 2015? That would have put Fernandez on notice.

Child molesters are opportunistic and look for the path of least resistance to what they want.

To install cameras in the basement would have been a great idea, but after the 2015 incident adults were not allowed to take kids to the basement to pick up material (Fernandez was not the only teacher who was going to the basement with students)

Fernandez should have been fired with the locked door - regardless of what MPD could substantiate. There is no reasonable justification for taking students to the basement and locking the door. Cameras with notice would have only caused him to abuse children elsewhere. Hidden cameras would still have allowed children to be abused. Sending prayers of healing for the children directly and indirectly affected and for the entire LAMB community. I can’t imagine that there is any settlement or justice that will satisfy parents knowing that he was allowed to continue past those 2015 incidents. And to those who say he was “in” with the admin. Who knows? He got to the school in the spring of 2013 and there were concerns within his first year. Hard to believe he was part of the in-crowd so quickly. This might have been pure arrogance - thinking that this type of thing couldn’t happen at LAMB or couldn’t happen with someone hired by the admin.

Not only that. Apparently one key fact being left out is that he was very popular. With parents, teachers, everyone (I have been told). They key thing to learn for anyone might be that such abusers can be charasmatic, meaning they are able to lie and charm their way out of situation. I have to believe that while astoundingly ignorant and reprehensible, the admins actually just plain believed him. And they weren’t the only ones. Clearly it’s important to look at this and create policies that would prevent such blindness.

Just like the charismatic teacher at Oyster, even after the admission some people didn't want to believe it was true because he presented as such a trustworthy and wonderful teacher! Sad all around situation for those involved.

The key difference between Oyster and LAMB is that the former Oyster teacher was arrested the same day the parents brought the matter to Oyster's attention (the school administrators called the police immediately). They didn't give him a second chance to molest more children, like LAMB. Further, they didn't walk him to the edge of campus like Beauvoir and THEN call the police (thus giving him an opportunity to evade arrest for 5 years and possibly molest more children while on the run). Oyster handled the situation the best way possible, and that's why the administrators are not/never were the targets of lawsuits.

In summary: LAMB is no Oyster.

Well to be fair, LAMB called MPD but MPD didn’t arrest him.

[Anonymous]

'Fernandez worked in another DC charter school before LAMB. Why did he leave?

[Anonymous]

Nobody knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I need to jump in here, as a lawyer, and point out that just because someone asks for millions of dollars in a lawsuit, doesn’t mean that’s what their case is worth, nor does it mean that’s what they’re going to get. I think this case has merit, at least against Cristina and Diane, but I don’t think it’s worth millions of dollars.

I also think this case is going to settle. There’s no way these parents are going to want their children to endure depositions and trial testimony. The school is, I’m sure, also motivated to settle. This case, and those like it, can get resolved at some reasonable number.

How much, precisely, would you accept in exchange for molestation of your child? Only a lawyer...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I need to jump in here, as a lawyer, and point out that just because someone asks for millions of dollars in a lawsuit, doesn’t mean that’s what their case is worth, nor does it mean that’s what they’re going to get. I think this case has merit, at least against Cristina and Diane, but I don’t think it’s worth millions of dollars.

I also think this case is going to settle. There’s no way these parents are going to want their children to endure depositions and trial testimony. The school is, I’m sure, also motivated to settle. This case, and those like it, can get resolved at some reasonable number.

How much, precisely, would you accept in exchange for molestation of your child? Only a lawyer...

When you get involved in litigation, and you’re paying legal fees, and your lawyer tells you that your case is likely to drag on for at least 3 years, that discovery and trial will be tough for your family, that your chance of success against the “deep pockets” is not great, that you probably won’t be able to collect against the individuals, that you could spend all this money on legal fees and then lose, and that your best outcome is probably $_______, you weigh your options and if you’re a rational actor, you settle. Litigation is terrible and soul sucking, even if you have a great case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth didn't they install security cameras in the basement and other areas in 2015? That would have put Fernandez on notice.

Child molesters are opportunistic and look for the path of least resistance to what they want.

To install cameras in the basement would have been a great idea, but after the 2015 incident adults were not allowed to take kids to the basement to pick up material (Fernandez was not the only teacher who was going to the basement with students)

Fernandez should have been fired with the locked door - regardless of what MPD could substantiate. There is no reasonable justification for taking students to the basement and locking the door. Cameras with notice would have only caused him to abuse children elsewhere. Hidden cameras would still have allowed children to be abused. Sending prayers of healing for the children directly and indirectly affected and for the entire LAMB community. I can’t imagine that there is any settlement or justice that will satisfy parents knowing that he was allowed to continue past those 2015 incidents. And to those who say he was “in” with the admin. Who knows? He got to the school in the spring of 2013 and there were concerns within his first year. Hard to believe he was part of the in-crowd so quickly. This might have been pure arrogance - thinking that this type of thing couldn’t happen at LAMB or couldn’t happen with someone hired by the admin.

Not only that. Apparently one key fact being left out is that he was very popular. With parents, teachers, everyone (I have been told). They key thing to learn for anyone might be that such abusers can be charasmatic, meaning they are able to lie and charm their way out of situation. I have to believe that while astoundingly ignorant and reprehensible, the admins actually just plain believed him. And they weren’t the only ones. Clearly it’s important to look at this and create policies that would prevent such blindness.

Just like the charismatic teacher at Oyster, even after the admission some people didn't want to believe it was true because he presented as such a trustworthy and wonderful teacher! Sad all around situation for those involved.

The key difference between Oyster and LAMB is that the former Oyster teacher was arrested the same day the parents brought the matter to Oyster's attention (the school administrators called the police immediately). They didn't give him a second chance to molest more children, like LAMB. Further, they didn't walk him to the edge of campus like Beauvoir and THEN call the police (thus giving him an opportunity to evade arrest for 5 years and possibly molest more children while on the run). Oyster handled the situation the best way possible, and that's why the administrators are not/never were the targets of lawsuits.

In summary: LAMB is no Oyster.

Well to be fair, LAMB called MPD but MPD didn’t arrest him.

Did you read the attached lawsuit? Even though MPD didn't arrest him, the board gave LAMB's administration permission to fire him. They chose not to fire him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth didn't they install security cameras in the basement and other areas in 2015? That would have put Fernandez on notice.

Child molesters are opportunistic and look for the path of least resistance to what they want.

To install cameras in the basement would have been a great idea, but after the 2015 incident adults were not allowed to take kids to the basement to pick up material (Fernandez was not the only teacher who was going to the basement with students)

Fernandez should have been fired with the locked door - regardless of what MPD could substantiate. There is no reasonable justification for taking students to the basement and locking the door. Cameras with notice would have only caused him to abuse children elsewhere. Hidden cameras would still have allowed children to be abused. Sending prayers of healing for the children directly and indirectly affected and for the entire LAMB community. I can’t imagine that there is any settlement or justice that will satisfy parents knowing that he was allowed to continue past those 2015 incidents. And to those who say he was “in” with the admin. Who knows? He got to the school in the spring of 2013 and there were concerns within his first year. Hard to believe he was part of the in-crowd so quickly. This might have been pure arrogance - thinking that this type of thing couldn’t happen at LAMB or couldn’t happen with someone hired by the admin.

Not only that. Apparently one key fact being left out is that he was very popular. With parents, teachers, everyone (I have been told). They key thing to learn for anyone might be that such abusers can be charasmatic, meaning they are able to lie and charm their way out of situation. I have to believe that while astoundingly ignorant and reprehensible, the admins actually just plain believed him. And they weren’t the only ones. Clearly it’s important to look at this and create policies that would prevent such blindness.

Just like the charismatic teacher at Oyster, even after the admission some people didn't want to believe it was true because he presented as such a trustworthy and wonderful teacher! Sad all around situation for those involved.

The key difference between Oyster and LAMB is that the former Oyster teacher was arrested the same day the parents brought the matter to Oyster's attention (the school administrators called the police immediately). They didn't give him a second chance to molest more children, like LAMB. Further, they didn't walk him to the edge of campus like Beauvoir and THEN call the police (thus giving him an opportunity to evade arrest for 5 years and possibly molest more children while on the run). Oyster handled the situation the best way possible, and that's why the administrators are not/never were the targets of lawsuits.

In summary: LAMB is no Oyster.

Well to be fair, LAMB called MPD but MPD didn’t arrest him.

Did you read the attached lawsuit? Even though MPD didn't arrest him, the board gave LAMB's administration permission to fire him. They chose not to fire him.

Are you talking about paragraph 38? It says that Diane and Cristina “were authorized” to terminate his employment. That doesn’t mean the board gave them some kind of special permission. They had that authority as principal and executive director.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth didn't they install security cameras in the basement and other areas in 2015? That would have put Fernandez on notice.

Child molesters are opportunistic and look for the path of least resistance to what they want.

To install cameras in the basement would have been a great idea, but after the 2015 incident adults were not allowed to take kids to the basement to pick up material (Fernandez was not the only teacher who was going to the basement with students)

Fernandez should have been fired with the locked door - regardless of what MPD could substantiate. There is no reasonable justification for taking students to the basement and locking the door. Cameras with notice would have only caused him to abuse children elsewhere. Hidden cameras would still have allowed children to be abused. Sending prayers of healing for the children directly and indirectly affected and for the entire LAMB community. I can’t imagine that there is any settlement or justice that will satisfy parents knowing that he was allowed to continue past those 2015 incidents. And to those who say he was “in” with the admin. Who knows? He got to the school in the spring of 2013 and there were concerns within his first year. Hard to believe he was part of the in-crowd so quickly. This might have been pure arrogance - thinking that this type of thing couldn’t happen at LAMB or couldn’t happen with someone hired by the admin.

Not only that. Apparently one key fact being left out is that he was very popular. With parents, teachers, everyone (I have been told). They key thing to learn for anyone might be that such abusers can be charasmatic, meaning they are able to lie and charm their way out of situation. I have to believe that while astoundingly ignorant and reprehensible, the admins actually just plain believed him. And they weren’t the only ones. Clearly it’s important to look at this and create policies that would prevent such blindness.

Just like the charismatic teacher at Oyster, even after the admission some people didn't want to believe it was true because he presented as such a trustworthy and wonderful teacher! Sad all around situation for those involved.

The key difference between Oyster and LAMB is that the former Oyster teacher was arrested the same day the parents brought the matter to Oyster's attention (the school administrators called the police immediately). They didn't give him a second chance to molest more children, like LAMB. Further, they didn't walk him to the edge of campus like Beauvoir and THEN call the police (thus giving him an opportunity to evade arrest for 5 years and possibly molest more children while on the run). Oyster handled the situation the best way possible, and that's why the administrators are not/never were the targets of lawsuits.

In summary: LAMB is no Oyster.

Well to be fair, LAMB called MPD but MPD didn’t arrest him.

Did you read the attached lawsuit? Even though MPD didn't arrest him, the board gave LAMB's administration permission to fire him. They chose not to fire him.

Are you talking about paragraph 38? It says that Diane and Cristina “were authorized” to terminate his employment. That doesn’t mean the board gave them some kind of special permission. They had that authority as principal and executive director.

Yes, and they used their authority to continue to allow this man to teach at LAMB. They should have fired him for engaging in inappropriate behavior with students. Instead, they ignored the reports of the neighbor, as well as fellow teachers. That is why this mess is even bigger and messier than it had to be. This was seriously mishandled by LAMB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I need to jump in here, as a lawyer, and point out that just because someone asks for millions of dollars in a lawsuit, doesn’t mean that’s what their case is worth, nor does it mean that’s what they’re going to get. I think this case has merit, at least against Cristina and Diane, but I don’t think it’s worth millions of dollars.

I also think this case is going to settle. There’s no way these parents are going to want their children to endure depositions and trial testimony. The school is, I’m sure, also motivated to settle. This case, and those like it, can get resolved at some reasonable number.

How much, precisely, would you accept in exchange for molestation of your child? Only a lawyer...

When you get involved in litigation, and you’re paying legal fees, and your lawyer tells you that your case is likely to drag on for at least 3 years, that discovery and trial will be tough for your family, that your chance of success against the “deep pockets” is not great, that you probably won’t be able to collect against the individuals, that you could spend all this money on legal fees and then lose, and that your best outcome is probably $_______, you weigh your options and if you’re a rational actor, you settle. Litigation is terrible and soul sucking, even if you have a great case.

Litigator here too and I posted before. Likely to settle of course. The parents and lawyers know this. Deep pockets is the insurance company though it seems from the filing that they are targeting the individuals too. I am curious about the insurance company covering the employees and exactly how that is worded. With the filing I can't imagine the other parents/lawyers will sit by. Though many talk about the cost of litigation, with this filing info, the report and insurance it is pretty easy to get other families involved. While the parents don't want this to go to trial the defendants in no way want this to go to trial either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth didn't they install security cameras in the basement and other areas in 2015? That would have put Fernandez on notice.

Child molesters are opportunistic and look for the path of least resistance to what they want.

To install cameras in the basement would have been a great idea, but after the 2015 incident adults were not allowed to take kids to the basement to pick up material (Fernandez was not the only teacher who was going to the basement with students)

Fernandez should have been fired with the locked door - regardless of what MPD could substantiate. There is no reasonable justification for taking students to the basement and locking the door. Cameras with notice would have only caused him to abuse children elsewhere. Hidden cameras would still have allowed children to be abused. Sending prayers of healing for the children directly and indirectly affected and for the entire LAMB community. I can’t imagine that there is any settlement or justice that will satisfy parents knowing that he was allowed to continue past those 2015 incidents. And to those who say he was “in” with the admin. Who knows? He got to the school in the spring of 2013 and there were concerns within his first year. Hard to believe he was part of the in-crowd so quickly. This might have been pure arrogance - thinking that this type of thing couldn’t happen at LAMB or couldn’t happen with someone hired by the admin.

Not only that. Apparently one key fact being left out is that he was very popular. With parents, teachers, everyone (I have been told). They key thing to learn for anyone might be that such abusers can be charasmatic, meaning they are able to lie and charm their way out of situation. I have to believe that while astoundingly ignorant and reprehensible, the admins actually just plain believed him. And they weren’t the only ones. Clearly it’s important to look at this and create policies that would prevent such blindness.

Just like the charismatic teacher at Oyster, even after the admission some people didn't want to believe it was true because he presented as such a trustworthy and wonderful teacher! Sad all around situation for those involved.

The key difference between Oyster and LAMB is that the former Oyster teacher was arrested the same day the parents brought the matter to Oyster's attention (the school administrators called the police immediately). They didn't give him a second chance to molest more children, like LAMB. Further, they didn't walk him to the edge of campus like Beauvoir and THEN call the police (thus giving him an opportunity to evade arrest for 5 years and possibly molest more children while on the run). Oyster handled the situation the best way possible, and that's why the administrators are not/never were the targets of lawsuits.

In summary: LAMB is no Oyster.

Well to be fair, LAMB called MPD but MPD didn’t arrest him.

Did you read the attached lawsuit? Even though MPD didn't arrest him, the board gave LAMB's administration permission to fire him. They chose not to fire him.

Are you talking about paragraph 38? It says that Diane and Cristina “were authorized” to terminate his employment. That doesn’t mean the board gave them some kind of special permission. They had that authority as principal and executive director.

Yes, and they used their authority to continue to allow this man to teach at LAMB. They should have fired him for engaging in inappropriate behavior with students. Instead, they ignored the reports of the neighbor, as well as fellow teachers. That is why this mess is even bigger and messier than it had to be. This was seriously mishandled by LAMB.

Not to mention that this was certainly conduct he had engaged in in the past. Dude did not just become a serial child molester when he started to work at LAMB. I'll bet anything that a thorough background check would have turned something up.

[Anonymous]

They did do a background check...it was clean. Child molesters are tricky people. They're great liars, and often don't get caught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oyster 'handled' its molester differently because the parents of the victim showed up at school with rgw dick pics he texted to their child.

Oyster appropriately called the police, which immediately arrested him.

The school had no idea he was a molester; they allowed him to sell movie nights at his apartment at the school auction.

Let's not go too crazy here.

LAMB TEACHERS and a school neighbor came to the school with separate, independent stories regarding this man's inappropriate behavior with children (that broke school rules). LAMB didn't need an MPD arrest or charges against the teacher to fire him. The school chose to look the other way, and now those key administrators are without jobs and they're being sued. Don't become a LAMB apologist. There is absolutely nothing to defend here.

P.S. Schools all across this country continue to allow teachers to offer "teacher time" with students to raise money for school auctions. Oyster no longer allows teachers to offer "teacher time" at their homes, but NO Oyster parent was ever forced to bid on these auction items either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I need to jump in here, as a lawyer, and point out that just because someone asks for millions of dollars in a lawsuit, doesn’t mean that’s what their case is worth, nor does it mean that’s what they’re going to get. I think this case has merit, at least against Cristina and Diane, but I don’t think it’s worth millions of dollars.

I also think this case is going to settle. There’s no way these parents are going to want their children to endure depositions and trial testimony. The school is, I’m sure, also motivated to settle. This case, and those like it, can get resolved at some reasonable number.

How much, precisely, would you accept in exchange for molestation of your child? Only a lawyer...

When you get involved in litigation, and you’re paying legal fees, and your lawyer tells you that your case is likely to drag on for at least 3 years, that discovery and trial will be tough for your family, that your chance of success against the “deep pockets” is not great, that you probably won’t be able to collect against the individuals, that you could spend all this money on legal fees and then lose, and that your best outcome is probably $_______, you weigh your options and if you’re a rational actor, you settle. Litigation is terrible and soul sucking, even if you have a great case.

Litigator here too and I posted before. Likely to settle of course. The parents and lawyers know this. Deep pockets is the insurance company though it seems from the filing that they are targeting the individuals too. I am curious about the insurance company covering the employees and exactly how that is worded. With the filing I can't imagine the other parents/lawyers will sit by. Though many talk about the cost of litigation, with this filing info, the report and insurance it is pretty easy to get other families involved. While the parents don't want this to go to trial the defendants in no way want this to go to trial either.

The school's policy will no doubt cover each claim or cause of action up to a maximum, with an aggregate payout under the policy up to $X. What would make me nervous right now if I was a LAMB parent is how much aggregate coverage there is under the policy. I would expect every wronged family to come out and file similar suits. If the final amount ordered at trial(s) exceeds the coverage...ball game. It is also noteworthy that the filing pounds on gross negligence, willful misconduct and other very high thresholds. LAMB's policy should cover administrators in their individual capacities, but some polices exclude coverage for egregious behaviors. As someone disgusted by what these people did and did not do, I'd be quite content if LAMB came out of pocket for huge amounts to victims but survived, and the individuals were left out to pasture on their own.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know why DC only charged Fernandez with abuse of 6 kids when there were more victims?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know why DC only charged Fernandez with abuse of 6 kids when there were more victims?

Yes, people that should know and need to know this, do know why.