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

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.

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