Edison, NJ – The Edison Township Board of Education has recently settled five more lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of students by a former high school teacher, Frederick Burkley, in the 1980s. These latest settlements, totaling $8.9 million, bring the overall amount paid to victims to $14.15 million, according to the law firm Rebenack Aronow & Mascolo L.L.P., which represents the plaintiffs. This covers seven of the nine cases filed against the district.
The lawsuits involve male survivors who claim they were abused by Burkley, a former woodshop teacher and weightlifting coach, between 1979 and 1985. The alleged abuse occurred in a small room connected to the school’s woodshop, often after after-school activities. Burkley pleaded guilty in 1986 to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact and received probation, court records show. He was accused of fondling boys after weightlifting sessions. Burkley is now deceased.
The plaintiffs’ lawsuits argued that the Board of Education was aware, or should have been aware, of Burkley’s predatory behavior and failed to implement adequate policies to protect students. They claimed negligence on the part of the board.
In a statement, the Edison School District said, “While we cannot comment on the substance of the lawsuits, these settlements were funded by the District’s insurers and there is no finding of liability against the District. The District is grateful to resolve these cases and to continue to focus on providing an excellent education, and safe, nurturing environment for all our students.”
Jay Mascolo, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, commented on the difficulty survivors of child sexual abuse often face in coming forward. “Survivors of child sexual abuse often do not come forward until many years after their abuse,” Mascolo said. “New Jersey joined several other states in passing laws to ensure survivors have access to the court system to seek justice and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. It was my privilege to represent these brave men, whose destruction of their youthful innocence should have been preventable.”
This recent settlement follows a $3 million settlement in November with a former student who alleged Burkley groomed and assaulted him between the ages of 13 and 15. The total amount of the settlements underscores the lasting impact of the abuse and the ongoing efforts of survivors to seek justice. The remaining two cases against the board are still pending.
