School District in North Carolina Settles Civil Lawsuit With Sexual Assault Victims for $5.75 Million

Four years of litigation came to an end Friday when the New Hanover County Board of Education reached a $5.75 million settlement with the plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit claiming sexual abuse and exploitation by a former New Hanover County Schools teacher.

According to a mutual announcement from the New Hanover County Board of Education and the plaintiffs’ attorneys, the settlement resolves claims based on Michael Kelly’s sexual misconduct. Kelly was a chemistry teacher at Laney High School and Isaac Bear Early College High School in Wilmington.

The litigation alleged the school district was negligent and failed to prevent Kelly’s abuse.

“With this settlement, these 14 survivors of Kelly’s abuse will be able to get the treatment and closure that they so desperately need,” said Joel Rhine of the Rhine Law Firm, P.C. in Friday’s news release.

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