The alleged abuse by a former teacher at Myron L. Powell Elementary School spanned several years between the late 1990s and early 2000s.
John Paff, who publishes the government-transparency site Transparency NJ, filed the public-records lawsuit against the Lawrence Township Board of Education after it denied his request for copies of settlement agreements in three civil cases.
“I don’t care about any of that,” Paff said. “I just want to know how much money paid.”“I ask for these settlement agreements routinely, like every week, and I get them without anybody ever denying them,” Paff said. The underlying lawsuits stem from allegations that Derek Hildreth, a former Lawrence Township teacher and coach,and early 2000s — allegations that led to criminal charges and a prison term. Hildreth was sentenced in 2013 to 20 years in state prison under a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to four counts, including three first-degree aggravated sexual assault charges and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.At least six victims were included in a 33-count indictment against Hildreth, who initially faced 30 years in state prison.The abuse spurred three lawsuits filed in 2012, 2017 and 2020. Paff contends the settlement agreements in these cases are government records subject to disclosure under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act. In the lawsuit, he says the board rejected his request by citing exemptions for victims’ records. In a written response to Paff, the district’s records official said the school board does not have a copy of the settlement from the 2020 lawsuit and that documents in the other two cases are protected by a non-disclosure clause and potentially, a confidentiality order. The case asks a judge to decide whether settlement agreements resolving lawsuits against a public school district must be released under OPRA with appropriate redactions.Eric Conklin is an award-winning journalist who joined NJ Advance Media in 2023 from The Press of Atlantic City. He began his journalism career as a college student freelancing for Shore Local News Magazine in...
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Google Lawsuit Reveals Marketing Strategy Targeting SchoolsNewly filed documents detail Google's strategy to integrate its products, including YouTube and Chromebooks, into schools with the aim of cultivating lifelong customers. The documents highlight concerns about the platform's potential negative impacts on student well-being, while outlining plans to leverage its presence in education to drive future product usage.
Read more »
Fed rate decision: Why Jerome Powell’s press conference is the real wildcard for marketsPowell could signal a 'dovish pause,' but his comments on other issues may temper the bullish reaction in BTC and other risk assets.
Read more »
Trump says it 'is too late' to stop the White House ballroom construction amid lawsuitFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
Amber Heard claims Johnny Depp lawsuit left her voiceless nearly four years after explosive trialFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
Apple Settles Lawsuit Over Unintended Siri RecordingsApple has agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging the unlawful recording of user conversations through its Siri voice assistant. The settlement resolves claims that Siri recorded conversations even when the 'Hey Siri' prompt was not activated, affecting users of various Apple devices between September 2014 and December 2014. While Apple denies any wrongdoing, the settlement provides compensation to eligible users.
Read more »
Lawsuit seeks emergency extension of early voting after weather closures in Congressional District 18After severe weather shut down early voting in Harris County, voting rights organizations are asking a judge to restore lost voting days to protect voters in the Congressional District 18 runoff election.
Read more »