Matthew Joseph Shelton, a 5th grade teacher at Robert Semple Elementary School in Benicia, was recently arrested on 5 felony counts of child sexual abuse. Shelton was formally charged on February 23, 2024 with 5 counts of lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14. According to court records, the incidents, which occurred in 2022, involved a student at Robert Semple Elementary School.
According to a spokesperson for the Benicia Unified School District, Shelton was no longer working for them as of the 2023 – 2024 school year. However, he was working at Robert Semple Elementary School in 2015, and before that, he was employed by the district as a substitute teacher. Considering how long he had worked for the district, there is no telling how many children were taken advantage of by Matthew Joseph Shelton
While these facts are disturbing enough on their own, this is not the first time that Shelton was arrested for sexually abusing a student. In 2007, he was arrested for inappropriate touching of 2 female students at Phillips Edison Elementary School while he was employed by the Napa Unified School District. A trial was held in 2008, but Shelton was acquitted of all charges and fought to have his teaching license reinstated. Eventually, Shelton was hired by Benicia Unified School District, where his pattern of child sexual assault continued with a whole new set of victims.
Were you sexually abused by Matthew Joseph Shelton while you were a student at the Benicia Unified School District or the Napa Unified School District? Do you have a child that was sexually assaulted or solicited by this former teacher or any other school employee? A lawsuit for sexual abuse may be the right course of action for you or your family member, which we would like to discuss with you during a free, confidential case review. Contact us right away if you or your child is suffering from the effects of school sexual abuse.
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Can I Sue a School District for Sexual Abuse?
Though you can sue the teacher that abused you for monetary damages, it’s more than likely that you have grounds to file a lawsuit against the school system. Your right to sue is based on negligence, which there is plenty of in the case of Matthew Joseph Shelton and his history as a school teacher.
It’s disheartening to know that this predator was acquitted of all charges over 10 years ago, in spite of heart-wrenching testimony from his victims, who were still children at the time. But even more astounding is Benicia Unified School District’s decision to hire him, considering his previous record at Phillips Edison Elementary School. In addition, we find it hard to believe that in 8 to 9 years of working for the district, district officials were completely unaware of inappropriate conduct between Shelton and his students.
The truth is, these individuals repeat the same pattern of abuse again and again. And they are allowed to do so by negligent school officials who do not conduct proper background checks or choose to hire the person anyway in spite of disturbing allegations. Many school systems also fail to take abuse reports seriously, and instead, blame the student or find ways to keep them from going to the police. While it’s hard to believe, we have come across years of records pertaining to specific teachers and complaints filed against them, yet those same individuals have kept their jobs, or they were quietly transferred to another district.
What happened at Robert Semple Elementary School does not surprise us, considering the number of school sexual assault victims we have represented over the years. Such shocking examples of negligence and misconduct cannot be tolerated, and this is the principle that motivates us on a daily basis. You deserve justice for a school district’s failure to protect you from a sexual predator, and we hope to join you on that journey. For more information on suing a school for sexual abuse, please contact our office.
Average Settlement Value for a School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
On average, lawsuits for the sexual abuse of a student can be worth between $1,500,000 to $5,000,000 based on the specific acts of abuse, the injuries to the victim, and many other factors. In actuality, how much you can receive from a school sex abuse claim can vary significantly, with settlements ranging from $450,000 to $10,000,000 and above. Generally, you can expect settlement values of 6 to 7 figures, and even 8 figures in the most extreme cases of injury and negligence by the school system.
As for the compensation that’s included in your settlement, here are the payments you may be entitled to:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Loss of consortium
- Attorney’s fees
- Treble damages
Please contact us to learn more about these damages from a sexual abuse lawsuit attorney. Our lawyers have decades of experience in sexual abuse claims against school districts, and we are more than ready to bring you maximum payment from a Benicia Unified School District lawsuit.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a School Teacher Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
Lawsuits for sexual abuse by a teacher can take 6 months or less under the best of circumstances, though we generally find that these cases take 1 to 2 years. It’s an unfortunate reality, but suing a school district is an extremely complicated process due to the fact that they are a public entity. Thus, they have more legal protections than private entities (a business, for example), which makes the lawsuit process more challenging. This, among other reasons, is why you should not attempt one of these lawsuits without representation from a child sexual assault lawyer.
During consultations, we are often asked about the likelihood of going to trial if a settlement cannot be reached. While this is a possibility, we want to assure you that over 95% of sexual abuse lawsuits are settled out of court. However, getting both sides to agree on a settlement amount can take over 12 months. If going to trial is the only option left, settling a California school district sexual abuse lawsuit can take over 3 years.
Statute of Limitations to Sue for Child Sexual Assault
A lawsuit for the sexual abuse of a minor must be filed no later than 22 years after the victim turns 18, which is the age of adulthood in California. That means you will need to submit a claim for sexual abuse against the Benicia Unified School District by your 40th birthday. However, there is a discovery rule for child sexual assault cases, which may be of help to you if the statute of limitations has expired on your case.
The 5-year discovery rule is based on the concept of realizing a physical or emotional injury caused by sexual abuse later on in life. In many cases, those who are sexually abused as children do not understand what has happened to them. Even if they do, they are confused and scared by the events and choose to suppress memories of abuse rather than telling someone. And those who go to another teacher, the principal, etc., may be ignored or discouraged from seeking help. This is also a contributing factor as to why children repress memories of sexual abuse.
Suppression of trauma from sexual misconduct by a teacher can have devastating consequences, including PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health issues. But it can take many years before the victim understands the root cause of their suffering. And for some of our clients, it took going to a therapist before they were able to connect the dots between a mental disorder and the abuse they suffered as a student.
Due to recent changes in the laws, you have 5 years to file a lawsuit from when you discover an injury that resulted from sexual abuse during childhood. It does not matter how old you are, so even if you are past the age of 40, you may be eligible for a lawsuit if you were sexually abused by a teacher or any other school employee.
Don’t worry if you are confused by any of this information; a school sex abuse lawsuit attorney is here to help you with any questions during a free case review.
Contact Our Law Firm
Thankfully, the laws in California are very progressive when it comes to child sexual abuse. But you will need advice from an experienced sexual assault lawyer to take advantage of the legal process. That’s why we encourage you to contact us and talk to a lawyer who can sue the Benicia Unified School District or any other school system in California for sexual abuse by a teacher.
We will provide you with a free consultation to learn about your rights and legal options. If you decide to file a sexual abuse claim, we can provide you with free legal services from start to finish. Since we have a Zero Fee Guarantee, our payment comes from winning your case and receiving payment directly from the school district. So, if we don’t recover your settlement, you won’t be charged a single penny in legal fees.
We look forward to advising you and fighting for the compensation you deserve. Contact Normandie Law Firm and schedule a free case evaluation.
