In a previous post we wrote about an Episcopal School in Dallas that was sued by the family of a former student who claimed she was sexually assaulted by a teacher and forced to leave after the incident. The teacher, who was 34-years-old at the time of the incident, has admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with the student, who was 16-year-old at the time, and is currently awaiting trial on criminal charges of sexual assault of a child and improper relationship with a student.

The case against the school-the Episcopal School of Dallas-was recently completed following nine weeks of testimony. The school was reportedly found grossly negligent in its handling of the student's relationship with the teacher, and must now pay the former student's family at least $5 million.

According to the girl's parents, administrators at the school failed to protect their daughter from the inappropriate relationship and forced her to leave for another school. Sources said she was told that if she didn't voluntarily leave she would be expelled. The whole situation was later called "wrong" by the school board president.

In addition to the jury verdict for $5 million, the school will have to pay $700,000 in punitive damages. The attorney for the former student's family, however, said that the school would have to pay $8.6 in compensatory damages.

Attorneys representing the school said they plan to appeal the jury verdict, which they feel is "fraught with error."

Source: wfaa.com, "ESD found negligent in teacher-student relationship case," Sep 21, 2011.