Former Student Gets $28 Million Jury Award Against Mount Vernon School District in Largest Sexual Assault Verdict in New York State History
This story was also recently featured in the April 2019 issue of Trial Magazine.
News Release: NEW YORK,
Friday, November 30, 2018
A Westchester Jury has awarded $28 million dollars to a former student that was raped after being led off Mount Vernon High School campus when she was supposed to be in class and on the special education bus.
The verdict is believed to be the largest physical and sexual assault jury verdict in New York State history.
The case involved a 14-year-old girl who was in the special education program at Mount Vernon High School when the sexual assault occurred.
The lawsuit brought on her behalf in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Westchester County, charged that the Mount Vernon High School failed to properly supervise her.
The jury award is one of the largest ever in the County and the trial lasted approximately one month.
The lawyers for the girl were Jordan Merson of Merson Law, PLLC, and Andrew Buzin of Buzin Law, P.C.
The claim is believed to be fully insured and the insurance carrier refused to make a reasonable settlement offer in advance of a verdict.
Mr. Buzin said, “after almost seven years of being mistreated by the School District, it took a jury to deliver justice and hold them accountable.”
Mr. Merson added that, “This is a wonderful family that deserves every penny that the jury awarded. This young girl has endured unimaginable horror due to the negligence of the school district.”
Biographical Information: Jordan Merson is a nationally recognized personal injury and sexual assault attorney, handling some of the largest cases in New York and the Country. He is licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania.
Andrew S. Buzin is licensed to practice in New York and Florida, and focuses on general negligence cases as well as those involving medical malpractice and wrongful death.
For further information contact Jordan Merson at jmerson@mersonlaw.com or (212) 390-1712 or Andrew S. Buzin at (646) 470-4878 or by email abuzin@buzinlaw.com.
