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Stamford Officials Settle $3.2M School Sex Assault Case

Five men who claim they were sexually assaulted by a school gym teacher in the 70s and 80s settled a lawsuit with the city of Stamford, according to Libby Carlson, special assistant to Mayor David Martin.

Stamford Mayor David Martin

Stamford Mayor David Martin

Photo Credit: File

The city agreed to settle with the five men for $3.25 million on Thursday. The settlement was approved by Judge Barbara Bellis.

The lawsuits claim that each of the men was under the age of 10 when they were sexually assaulted by Robert Martinez at the former Rogers School. The suit also claimed the Stamford Board of Education failed to them as children because of Martinez's conduct and did not follow school board policies.

“While this conduct occurred decades ago, we know that it is an extremely difficult subject to talk about and we support the victims for bringing this conduct to the Stamford Public Schools’ attention, said Martin and Superintendent of Schools Earl Kim in a joint statement. "We regret that these students were the victims of this reprehensible behavior and we believe the settlement is fair and reasonable, and in the best interest of all parties."

Martinez, who later worked at Toquam Magnet School in Stamford, retired in 2005. He was never charged with any crime due to a five-year statute of limitation on sex abuses cases at that time.

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