‘Horndog High’ student Awarded $750,000 after sex scandal
BROOKLYN, NY – On Aug. 17, 2017, a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge, awarded a male student that was seduced by his married high school teacher at ‘Horndog High’ $750,000. James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York, has earned the nickname “Horndog High” because it has been a hotbed for student-teacher sexual scandals in the past few years.
A former New York City high school football player, Kevin Eng, was only 16-year-old when seduced by Erin Sayar, his married English teacher. Sayar was 36-year-old at the time. She allegedly gave the teen marijuana and seduced him into having intercourse and oral sex inside Sayar’s SUV and classroom. Eventually, Eng’s girlfriend alerted school officials about the taboo affair.
In 2012, Sayar was charged with 50 criminal counts of statutory rape and sex abuse in 2012. She was later sentenced to 10 years of probation, stripped of her teaching license and designated a Level 1 sex offender. In response, Eng brought a civil case against the school and Sayar. Last year, the teen lost his $10 million suit against school, however the Eng’s lawyer continued to fight a case against Sayar.
During the course of the litigation, Sayar fell off the radar and failed to attend court or respond to letters concerning the law suit. Even her own lawyer had lost touch with her over the years. Because of her failure to appear in the civil law suit, the judge issued the $750,000 default judgement against her.
“This verdict, along with the punitive damages awarded by the judge, sends a strong message that teachers across New York State should take their position of authority very serious,” said Eng’s attorney.
In addition to sexual harassment against employees in the workplace, sexual harassment is a serious problem for students at all educational levels. Students in elementary and secondary schools, as well as vocational schools, apprenticeship programs, colleges and universities can be victims of sexual harassment.
In the education, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination and sexual harassment in educational institutions, programs, and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the federal government. In the workplace, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Law of 1964 sexual harassment is considered a form of gender discrimination because it is harassing conduct that occurs because of an individual’s gender. The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (“EEOC”) defines sexual harassment as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.” Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature, including text messages and emails.
If you feel like you need help or a way out contact the experienced New York City sexual harassment attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC. Our attorneys have years of experience litigating claims of gender discrimination. Working together with our Philadelphia sexual harassment attorneys, we have recovered millions on behalf of our clients who were discriminated against because of their gender. If you feel you have been discriminated against because of your gender, please give our attorneys a call at (800) 807-2209 for your free consultation.
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