Settlement Reached in Former Mass. Students’ Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
The former students sought $4.5 million in damages from the Berkshire Hills Regional School District after claims they were sexually assaulted by their school counselor.
The lawsuit claimed the district and the plaintiffs were negligent in preventing the abuse.
Three former students who alleged they were sexually abused by their school counselor have reached a settlement agreement with the Berkshire Hills Regional School District for an undisclosed amount of money.
The women, now in their 20s, alleged Scott Muir, now 43, sexually assaulted them in his basement office at the Stockbridge Plain School in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The women sought $4.5 million in damages in the civil lawsuit, which was filed in 2016.
The women were between ages eight and ten when Muir allegedly engaged in multiple forms of sexual contact between 2003 and 2006, including groping while giving piggy-back rides, inappropriate touching while sitting on his lap, and rape, reports The Berkshire Eagle.
The students told their mothers about the alleged abuse, which was then reported to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families in 2004. One mother claims she was assured there would be no further contact between Muir and the students, but communications reportedly continued through 2006.
Muir was employed at the school from 2002 to 2007 as a student center support coordinator. His duties included monitoring student behavior and improving student self-esteem. He was also an emergency services coordinator for the town.
Muir, the school district, former Superintendent Donna Moyers, Stockbridge Plain School Principal Robert Putnam and Assistant Principal Gloria Greaves were all named in the civil suit.
The lawsuit claimed the district and the plaintiffs were negligent in preventing the abuse, violating Title IX regulations. The suit also includes a civil claim of assault and battery against Muir, according to Mass Live.
The settlement comes four years after Muir’s initial arraignment in April 2012. Muir testified in his own defense, admitting to holding students in his lap despite warnings from school administrators.
“It probably wasn’t a smart thing to do, was it?” said Muir’s lawyer, William Rota. “And perhaps he was wrong, but it wasn’t illegal.”
He was acquitted of all 19 sex assault charges alleged by five former students.
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About the Author
Amy Rock, Executive Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
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