Teacher exonerated of misconduct charges still has legal bills to pay.
Supporters of teacher and coach Sean Lanigan, who was falsely accused of misconduct by a student, will gather next Friday in Chantilly for a fundraiser to help him put his legal bills behind him. Lanigan was falsely accused, jailed for several days and eventually acquitted of charges of molesting a 12-year-old student at a Centreville elementary school. He now teaches at South Lakes High School and coaches Herndon High School's varsity boys soccer team. The event next Friday is billed in an announcement as a "celebration and fundraiser" and will include a silent auction of items donated for the cause. It will be held 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Sully's Restaurant and Lounge, 14153 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway. Lanigan collected some but not all …
In this Article:
South Lakes teacher and Herndon soccer coach, falsely accused of molestation, sued the school system for legal costs reimbursement. The school system spent more than Sean Lanigan was asking in their own legal fees to battle him.
School board's latest offer to falsely accused gym teacher covers only a portion of his legal fees.
Fairfax County Public Schools says it will pay South Lakes High School physical education teacher Sean Langian more than $72,000 for legal fees incurred when a student at his former school in Centreville falsely accused him of molesting her, The Washington Post reported. The $72,838 is only a portion of the estimated $125,000 Lanigan spent defending himself against two felony charges in 2010. The Post reports that State law allows a county or state employee who is cleared of criminal charges to recover legal fees and expenses but not other costs, which for Lanigan were about $18,000. Lanigan, 45, first asked for $107,838 for his fees and expenses in July 2010, two months after his acquittal in Fairfax County Circuit Court. The school …
In this Article:
South Lakes teacher now suing board for full coverage of more than $100K in legal fees.
It has been an excruciating year and half for South Lakes High School physical education teacher Sean Lanigan. Lanigan was acquitted in 2010 of molesting a sixth-grade student at Centreville's Centre Ridge Elementary School after it later was found out the girl fabricated the story. He has tried for more than a year to have his legal fees of more than $100,000 reimbursed. The Fairfax County School Board declined, offering only $60,000 with the condition that Lanigan not sue any school officials. Lanigan rejected the partial offer and filed suit on Friday asking that the school board pay the enture $107,838, with no strings attached, writes Tom Jackman in The Washington Post's State of NoVa blog. The school board reimbursed Lanigan for the …
In this Article:
2:55 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
I hope I am on the jury. What is the maximum punitive damage we can award? more ›
Hornets lose first game of season, 3-0.
The undefeated Herndon boys’ varsity soccer team headed to Westfield High School Friday for its long-awaited shot at the Concorde District Championship. Their opponent: the Oakton Cougars, seeking revenge against their rival Hornets for last week’s overtime loss. Unfortunately, Herndon (13-1-1) lost Friday's game and would have to settle for runner-up in the district as the Cougars took the Concorde banner back to Oakton for the first time in a decade. Herndon will still advance to the Northern Regional tournament, which begins Wednesday. Behind by three in the second half, the Hornets dominated the last 30 minutes of play. Concorde Player of the Year Patrick McLaughlin and EK Korvah attacked Oakton goalkeeper Logan Cropper viciously with…
In this Article:
Administration comments on actions in the case of gym teacher who was falsely accused of molestation.
Fairfax County Public Schools earlier this week issued a statement regarding the case of physical education teacher Sean Lanigan, saying it followed school district procedure when a student accused him of molesting her. "Fairfax County Public Schools’ top priority is to ensure the safety of all its students," FCPS said in a statement to The Washington Post. "The school system followed its legal requirement when a complaint was made against Mr. Lanigan and reported it to authorities for their investigation." To read FCPS' entire comment on the case, click here. Lanigan, a South Lakes High School teacher and Herndon High soccer coach, recounted to The Washington Post in a Sunday story the devastating consequences to his family in the wake …
In this Article:
11:36 pm on Thursday, May 19, 2011
Anyone-regardless whether it's a teacher or someone in another profession-is cleared of an alleged crime or offense should be entitled to an immediate pardon and be eligible to be returned to his/her profession. I understand how FCPS should be looking out for our children BUT "it's over" and let the man go on with his life for God's sake! It's killing him and his family for a wrong he never … more ›
The Only Daughter
5:32 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012
This little girl now attends Liberty Middle School, all teachers beware. more ›