The Legal Herald Logo
Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News

Washington, D.C. - Former Duke Ellington School Instructor Andrew P. Smith Charged with Sexually Abusing Former Student

Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Published: March 18, 2020
By: Joe LaFrance
Last Updated on November 24, 2020

Ex-Instructor at Duke Ellington School of the Arts Accused of Sexually Abusing Student

Continue reading in our second section for information from school sex abuse attorney Laurence Banville on lawsuits for sexual abuse by teachers.

A former instructor at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Northwest Washington D.C. has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing one of his former students. 37-year-old Andrew P. Smith faces a charge of sexual abuse of a minor.

The former student told police that Smith initiated a sex act between the two in 2018. According to an arrest affidavit, Smith was suspended from his position as a choir instructor in October when these allegations first came to light. He no longer works at Duke Ellington.

Police say that in January 2018, Smith sexually abused the student after a school choir performance at the Kennedy Center. According to the police, sexual contact happened when Smith and the student shared and Uber ride to each of their homes after the performance.

laurence p banville esquire
Hi. My name is Laurence Banville.
I am licensed to practice law in New York and Washington, D.C. If you or a loved one needs legal assistance, I’d be happy to speak with you.
(888) 997-3792

Commentary From a Lawyer For Students Sexually Abused by Teachers

Attorney contributor Laurence Banville represents student victims of sexual abuse in civil lawsuits. Laurence has some thoughts to add on filing lawsuits for sexual abuse by teachers and other school employees:

While most teachers are trustworthy and honorable people, the sad reality is that sometimes sexual predators seek out jobs in education and other fields that involve working with children. Our sex abuse victim lawyers have seen this first hand in many cases of teachers sexually abusing students. When this happens, it’s important to not only investigate the teacher but the school as well for possible negligence.

Some cases of sexual abuse by teachers are preventable and only happen because of negligence by school officials. For example, if officials were aware of allegations of sexual misconduct by a teacher but failed to respond to those allegations, the school could be considered negligent. In cases involving negligence, school sex abuse victims and their families may have a case for a lawsuit against the school.

Were you sexually abused by a teacher? If so, it’s important to be aware of your legal rights. You can learn more in a free consultation with one of our experienced teacher sex abuse victims lawyers.

Source

https://www.washingtonpost.com./local/former-duke-ellington-school-instructor-charged-with-sexual-abuse-of-a-minor/2020/03/17/75ea0d22-67c7-11ea-9923-57073adce27c_story.html

Got A Tip Or Questions 
About A Story?
Call Us!
The Legal Herald
888-997-3792
About the Author
Joe LaFrance
About Joe LaFrance
Editor: Joe is a content writer with a focus on the legal field. He covers cases of sexual abuse, drunk driving, and preventable violent crime for the Legal Herald. Contact Joe: Joe@legalherald.com This article was fact checked prior to publishing by this author to ensure compliance with our rigorous editorial standards. We will only use authoritative sources. Our values compel us to provide only trustworthy information. If you find an error, please contact us.
Read some recent posts
Find A Local Lawyer

  • Details
  • Incident
Want To Contribute Breaking News? 
Contact Us Today
Legal Herald Logoinfo@legalherald.com
10355 Kensington Shore Dr. #102
Orlando, FL 32827
Call: (888) 997-3792
© 2020 The Legal Herald, a division of Eagle Peak Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved.

We would like our readers to know that the information in this story may be sourced from secondary sources and may therefore contain inaccuracies. We will correct them if and when they are brought to our attention or we discover them through our editing process. If you have any concerns about this post, please contact us immediately and we will rectify issues. DISCLAIMER: The material contained in this post is for general informational purposes. It is not intended to constitute or express legal or medical advice. Any laws referenced herein are substantially based on general legal principles and may not be applicable to your particular situation. Laws can often be different from one jurisdiction to the next. The Legal Herald is not a law firm. Law firms and lawyers from around the country may apply to become a sponsor or contributor to The Legal Herald.
SitemapMedia RoomDisclaimer / Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy