The Law Offices of Joseph C. George, Ph.D. teamed with the firm of Dreyer, Babich, Buccola, Wood, and Campora to earn a monumental victory on behalf of a young girl who was repeatedly sexually abused by Joshua Rolando Vasquez, who was an employee of both the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Unified School District.
Attorney Joseph C. George, Jr. of the Law Offices of Joseph C. George, Ph.D. hailed the victim’s courage to come forward about Vasquez’s criminal childhood sexual abuse of her. “Today through the courage of a child and the commitment of her family, we took a step toward protecting others,” he said.
Vasquez was a Sacramento City Unified School District employee, working on the Mark Twain Elementary School campus, and also a City of Sacramento after-school program leader on the Mark Twain campus. In November 2015, Plaintiff AV Doe courageously reported Vasquez’s childhood sexual abuse to her mother, who notified law enforcement. During the criminal investigation of Vasquez, the Sacramento City Police Department seized over 20 recorded videos that Vasquez took of his victims. Vasquez was sentenced to 150 years to life in prison for the childhood sexual abuse of Plaintiff AV Doe, and other girls, ages 7 to 13.
The City of Sacramento and the Sacramento City Unified School District failed to protect its students, including Plaintiff AV Doe, from Vasquez criminal acts.
The $12.5 million settlement will be paid by both the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento City Unified School District. The City of Sacramento will pay $7.5 million and the Sacramento City Unified School District will pay $5 million.
Of great significance, the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento City Unified School District are required to implement policy changes, no later than September 1, 2020, to better protect children, which include:
- Employees will be required to undergo a minimum of three hours of in-person training multiple times a year
- Managers and supervisors will have to undergo additional training in order to learn how to recognize, address, and report signs of pedophile grooming or concerning behavior
- The parents’ handbook will be updated to address child abuse issues
- Volunteer staff members will no longer be allowed to be alone with children
- Staff will not be allowed to meet with students alone behind doors that are closed and locked
We’re extremely proud to represent such a courageous young girl, who, along with her family, took steps to protect other children. We hope that this victory will ensure that children will be safer in these public schools and after school programs.
Call the Law Offices of Joseph C. George, Ph.D.at (916) 623-4914 today to request a consultation if you or a loved one has been sexually abused and learn more about your legal options.