Nearly two years later, two cases accusing Peninsula School District of failing to protect students have settled for $23.2 million. The cases involved a former teacher, Jordan Henderson, from Evergreen Elementary.
In January, Henderson was found guilty by a jury on 12 counts of child molestation in the first degree and is serving 66 years to life in prison, The Tacoma News Tribune reported.
Warnings allegedly went back to at least 2019. Pierce County deputies began investigating Henderson in 2024. Incidents of inappropriate touching reportedly happened in the classroom.
Fifth student joins lawsuits against district
Between April and May, families brought cases to Pierce County Superior Court and also filed a federal lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
The lawsuits alleged school administrators failed to report and ignored concerns from other teachers dating back to 2019, The Tacoma News Tribune reported. The criminal case originally involved only four students, but later a fifth student was added to the lawsuits against the school district.
The state and federal cases were settled in early August. On Tuesday, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs confirmed that the two cases settled for a combined $23.2 million.
Statement from Peninsula School District
“We can confirm that the district reached an agreement to resolve the litigation around the conduct of a former employee, Jordan Henderson, through a settlement funded entirely by our insurers,” Chief of Schools Michael Farmer told The Tacoma News Tribune. While Washington’s legal landscape presents significant financial uncertainty for public entities, our decision was also guided by a desire to protect those who were harmed.
“By settling this matter, these individuals were spared the emotional burden of a public trial and the necessity of recounting their experiences through testimony,” he continued. “It is our sincere hope that the survivors and their families feel a sense of closure as they continue on their path toward healing.”
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