Montgomery County Schools settles lawsuits stemming from Damascus broom rape scandal

In October 2018, three junior varsity football players were sexually assaulted by at least five other teammates in the team locker room.

DAMASCUS, Md. — Montgomery County Public Schools will pay almost $10 million to settle lawsuits brought by four former Damascus High School football players who said they were sexually assaulted by teammates with broomsticks in 2018, an attorney for one of the victims told WUSA9.

The lawsuits were filed in 2020 against Montgomery County Public Schools, two former Damascus administrators, and two former members of the high school's football coaching staff...

Damascus High School broom rape lawsuits settled by MCPS | wusa9.com

Montgomery County Schools to pay $9.7M in Damascus sex assault settlement

... "The Board Of Education has agreed to pay these four young men who were sexually assaulted at Damascus High School a total of $9.7 million dollars, and that appears to be appears to a record settlement in the State of Maryland," said attorney Timothy Maloney. 

In a statement to FOX 5, MCPS wrote that they have "taken extensive measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. This is protocol rooted in an increase in monitoring and oversight of all locker rooms across our school district." 

But the Parents Coalition of Montgomery County says they've had to fight for transparency. 

"We don’t see a system that says, whoa, whoa, we made a mistake, and now we have to be serious about this. No, in fact, we don’t see that at all. We see a repeat of the same pattern over and over," said Janis Zink Sartucci from the Parents Coalition of Montgomery County. 

The lawsuit was moved to federal court in February 2021. As part of this nearly $10 million settlement, MCPS continues to deny all liability. 

Montgomery County Schools to pay $9.7M in Damascus sex assault settlement (fox5dc.com)

Breaking: MORE VICTIMS Come Forward with Allegations of Abuse Concerning Former @mcps Cloverly Elem. Teacher John Vigna

Today, in Montgomery County Circuit Court a Status Hearing was held on the re-trial of former MCPS Cloverly Elementary School teacher John Vigna.  Mr. Vigna's previous conviction was recently vacated and a new trial has been set for 2024.

At the Status Hearing today, the Montgomery County Prosecutor revealed that new initial reports of abuse concerning Mr. Vigna have been received and are being investigated by Montgomery County Police.  The Prosecutor stated that if the new allegations of abuse are similar to the allegations in the matter before the court now, they may wish to join those allegations to this proceeding.  

EX-CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE PLEADS GUILTY #EBrookeLeeMiddleSchool

Maxwell Bero, a Watkins Mill High School teacher who last year ran against Rep. David Trone for Congress, pleaded guilty this week to sexually abusing a 14-year-old student in 2014 and 2015...

https://marylandreporter.com/2021/04/12/state-roundup-as-90-day-session-comes-to-a-close-lawmakers-overturn-hogan-vetoes-on-police-reform-juvenile-justice/