Miami Charter School student awarded $5.25 million

Jury decides Charter Schools USA negligent in boy's sex abuse lawsuit

MIAMI – A boy who claimed he was sexually abused at Miami Charter School has been awarded $5.25 million.

Jurors reached the verdict in the civil trial Tuesday.

The boy claimed another student sexually assaulted twice in a school bathroom.

His mother sued Charter Schools USA, which operated the downtown Miami school.

Jurors determined that there was negligence, but they did not find the school liable for damages under Title IX.

"In the end, they believed him," the boy's mother told Local 10 after the verdict.

She had sought $25 million, saying the school was notified but did nothing to protect the boy.

"He tried to seek help," attorney Jeffrey Herman said. "He talked about it when it first happened. And you could see in this trial that the school just didn't believe him, did not protect him."

Herman said the boy's testimony made the difference in court.

Charter Schools USA is likely to appeal the decision.


About the Authors:

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."