Five Women Awarded $13.6 Million in Damages for Sexual Abuse by Former High School Teacher
A jury has awarded five women a combined $13.6 million in damages for the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of their former high school teacher, Garry Poe. The women, who were students at Rolling Hills High School in the 1980s, alleged that Poe groomed and sexually abused them on a European tour he chaperoned each year after graduation.
The women, now in their 50s and 60s, took the witness stand during a four-week trial, testifying about the abuse they suffered at the hands of Poe. They described how Poe, who was their English teacher and baseball coach, would often visit their rooms or summon them to his during the Europe trip, where he would initiate unwanted sexual intercourse. One woman, Kim, testified that she was 18 years old when the abuse occurred and was “in survival mode” during the trip.
Pattern of Abuse and Neglect by School District
The jury found that the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District was negligent in allowing Poe to continue teaching and chaperoning the Europe trip, despite allegations of misconduct. The district’s lawyers argued that the abuse occurred after the students had graduated and that Poe’s actions were not sanctioned by the school district. However, the women’s lawyers argued that the district had a responsibility to protect its students and that Poe’s actions were a result of a pattern of abuse and neglect by the district.
Daniel Varon, a lawyer representing the women, compared Poe to a “wolf” who roamed the campus, targeting young girls for his annual Europe trip. Varon argued that Poe was able to develop trust with his students, break down boundaries, and ultimately recruit and sexually abuse them. The women testified to varying degrees of shame, guilt, anxiety, avoidance, and trauma from their dealings with Poe.
Verdict and Aftermath
The jury ultimately awarded $3.4 million each to three of the women and $1.7 million each to the other two. The school district will likely have to pay at least $6.46 million of the verdict, which will be divided among the five women. Poe, who is now 82 years old, denied any misconduct with the women, insisting that he had done nothing inappropriate while they were enrolled at the school.
The verdict is a significant victory for the women, who have suffered in silence for decades. The case highlights the importance of holding schools and teachers accountable for their actions and ensuring that students are protected from abuse. As one of the women’s lawyers noted, “Garry Poe was able to develop trust, break down boundaries, and ultimately recruit and sexually abuse each one of them. They suffered lifelong harm ever since.”
For more information on this case, please visit Here
Image Source: www.latimes.com
