A central Pennsylvania school district paid a student $600,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit against a teacher who was acquitted of sexual assault.
The student alleged that her driver’s education teacher subjected her to quid pro quo harassment in 2006; she was 16 at the time. According to her allegations, James D. Frank forced her to perform a sex act. Sexual harassment attorneys define quid pro quo harassment as requesting sexual favors in exchange for a favor such as a good grade.
A Dauphin County court acquitted Frank of the sexual assault charges but the accuser filed a federal sexual harassment lawsuit. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mildred E. Methvin stated that the student’s quid pro quo harassment claim had merit and she reported the harassment to the proper authorities but found that the school district responded with “deliberate indifference.”
James D. Frank surrendered his teacher’s license and will not be allowed to teach in the future.
In addition to paying the student $600,000 to settle the lawsuit the school district has agreed to provide sexual harassment training to teachers and faculty.
Sexual harassment is not only a problem in the workplace. Students, too, find that they must retain sexual harassment lawyers when their schools fail to properly address harassment allegations.
Sexual harassment attorneys
give victims the opportunity the chance to address the behavior and end it. The
victim can seek financial compensation for the abuses they must endure.
