The Berryessa Union School District has reached a settlement of $10.3 million with a group of former Sierramont Middle School students who were victims of sexual abuse by their teacher in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The San Jose-based law firm Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, representing three students, successfully secured the payout.
Ronald Dean Gardner, the convicted teacher, was sentenced to 22 years in prison last year after pleading guilty to sexually abusing four students. Gardner had taught at Sierramont Middle School over two decades ago and had faced allegations of inappropriate conduct with students. Despite a police investigation at the time, no criminal charges were filed, and Gardner was allowed to resign.
The lawsuit filed against the district alleged that school officials had allowed Gardner to continue teaching and supervising students despite multiple misconduct claims. The plaintiffs further claimed that the district had renewed Gardner’s emergency teaching credential each year and failed to provide the necessary supervision for someone in his circumstances.
Plaintiff’s attorney Lauren Cerri expressed concern over how Gardner remained a teacher for such an extended period, suggesting that the district had gone to great lengths to retain him. Despite previous complaints and red flags, the district chose to keep Gardner employed, even though they had the authority to terminate him due to his non-tenured status.
The settlement comes after the passage of Assembly Bill 218, which extended the statute of limitations for abuse cases. This allowed the victims to come forward with their allegations in 2021, leading to Gardner’s conviction.
One of the victims, identified as John Doe 1, stated that the compensation received was insignificant compared to the trauma endured and the impact it had on his life. He criticized governmental institutions for failing to protect children and the justice system for being skewed against victims.
Another plaintiff, referred to as John Doe 3, expressed a sense of vindication after suffering in silence for over two decades. While acknowledging the healing process ahead, he felt that he had regained control over his life.
Gardner, who taught science and was involved in extracurricular activities such as coaching the track team and advising the chess club, was arrested in April 2021. San Jose police cited a 2003 police report in which a student had reported inappropriate touching and explicit language from Gardner. The recently settled lawsuit provided additional details, including a reprimand for sexual innuendos and an alleged witness account of Gardner kissing a student on the cheek.
The abuse case gained momentum when one of the victims contacted the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office in February 2021, leading to further allegations and criminal charges against Gardner.
The lawsuit also revealed a disturbing incident where Gardner was nearly caught engaging in a sex act with one of the victims. The encounter was witnessed by a janitor, who did not report it. Subsequently, Gardner took measures to prevent such incidents, including blocking his classroom door with furniture and posting a warning note.
1 Response
This is such an important story that needs to be shared to raise awareness and support for the victims. I will definitely be sharing this post on my social media platforms to help spread the word. It’s crucial that we stand together and support those who have suffered from such heinous acts. Thank you for shedding light on this issue.