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After record payout, LAUSD facing another Miramonte abuse claim
LA Unified is facing yet another civil suit connected to a former teacher at Miramonte Elementary School after an LA County Superior Court judge ruled today that the case can move forward. The case, E.Z. v LAUSD, was filed May 7 and involves a single plaintiff who says she was a student of Mark Berndt‘s in 1996-1997,...
By Craig Clough | January 20, 2015
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Snag in suit of ex-LAUSD official who criticized Miramonte payout
A judge ruled today that a former LA Unified official’s lawsuit that claims his contract was not renewed in retaliation for criticizing the district’s handling of the Miramonte Elementary sex abuse case cannot move forward without more information being added to the complaint. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard Fruin found that there are not enough...
By Craig Clough | December 15, 2014
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LAUSD lawsuit over leaked Miramonte case files continues
A judge has ruled that LA Unified’s lawsuit accusing its former chief risk officer of stealing confidential documents related to the Miramonte school sex abuse case and leaking them to the media will move forward, as it does not violate the defendant’s First Amendment rights, City News Service reported. The lawsuit against Gregg Breed was filed in...
By Craig Clough | December 10, 2014
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Miramonte settlement is largest ever involving LAUSD
LA Unified has reached a settlement worth almost $140 million with 81 victims and their families from the sex abuse scandal involving former teacher Mark Berndt at Miramonte Elementary School. The exact amount, $139,250,000, is the largest settlement involving LA Unified and possibly of any school district in the country. “This puts to rest all...
By Vanessa Romo | November 21, 2014
Investigation: Nearly 1,000 Native Children Died in Federal Boarding Schools
Podcast: What a Mentorship Mindset Can Do for Student Motivation
Black and Hispanic Voters Say Democrats Aren’t Focused Enough on K-12 Education
Teen Activist Rhea Maniar on the Power of Abortion to Turn Out Young Voters
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Jury selection, settlement talks ongoing in Miramonte case
Jury selection resumed today in the Miramonte Elementary School sex-abuse civil case against LA Unified while settlement proceed but not yet with any results. The district school board met in a closed session yesterday reportedly to discuss a settlement offer that was made by the plaintiffs, who are former students and parents at Miramonte suing...
By LA School Report | November 19, 2014
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Jury selection, settlement hearing to begin in Miramonte civil trial
Jury selection is scheduled to begin today in the civil case stemming from the sex abuse scandal at Miramonte Elementary School by former teacher Mark Berndt. Also set for today is a settlement hearing, which was scheduled by the judge in an effort to settle the case before it goes to trial. Assuming no settlement...
By LA School Report | November 17, 2014
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Ratliff asking for review of LAUSD litigation costs over last 5 years
Building on her success investigating LA Unified’s controversial iPad program, Board Member Monica Ratliff is now asking for an overall examination into how the district allocates support for legal matters as a way to find added funding for improving school safety. In two resolutions set to come before the board next Tuesday, Ratliff is calling...
By Vanessa Romo | November 13, 2014
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First Miramonte civil trial scheduled to begin on Wednesday
*UPDATE The first civil trial against LA Unified over the sex abuse scandal at Miramonte Elementary School is headed to court later this week but first, a County Superior Court judge has ordered the two sides to meet for a last ditch effort to settle the case. Judge John Shepard Wiley has ordered the district to...
By Vanessa Romo | November 3, 2014
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LA Unified says it followed the law in handling abuse reports
In the face of reports that Miramonte Elementary School teacher Mark Berndt molested many more children than previously known, according to an LA County Sheriff’s investigation, LA Unified today said it followed prescribed legal regulations in dealing with reports of the allegations. The sheriff’s report included the assertion that the school district in 2008 destroyed...
By LA School Report | May 2, 2014
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Deasy Calls for Stronger Laws to Get Rid of Abusive Teachers
LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy used the resolution of the Mark Berndt molestation case to campaign for a new law that would make it easier to get rid of abusive teachers. Berndt, a Miramonte Elementary School teacher who was accused of abusing 23 students under the age of 14, pleaded no contest in court today and...
By Vanessa Romo | November 15, 2013