Man withdraws suit claiming East Lyme school psychologist had sex with him when he was 14
A 29-year-old man who alleged in a 2012 lawsuit that an East Lyme Middle School psychologist had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with him more than a decade earlier, has withdrawn the suit.
Attorneys involved in the case declined to discuss its resolution, achieved through mediation.
According to a filing Tuesday in New London Superior Court, the plaintiff withdrew the suit “as to all defendants,” including the former school psychologist, Allison Robinson, who became assistant director of the Friendship School in Waterford; Jerome Belair, former East Lyme Middle School principal; and the East Lyme Board of Education.
In 2013, Robinson escaped criminal prosecution in connection with the same events alleged in the civil suit when it was discovered that the statute of limitations had run out.
State police had charged Robinson in 2011 with sexually assaulting the plaintiff in 2000 and 2001.
The civil complaint accused Robinson of sexual assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress and negligence.
It accused Belair, the school board and an East Lyme Middle School teacher who shared an apartment with Robinson and who was later dropped from the suit, with negligence.
The plaintiff claimed that as a 14-year-old middle schooler, he was required to attend an anger management class conducted by Robinson, who was 25 at the time.
During the class, Robinson “engaged in inappropriate touching with the plaintiff that eventually escalated to sexual contact,” according to the complaint.
The sexual contact allegedly took place on and off school grounds, including Robinson’s middle school office, her residence, her vehicle, a classmate’s residence and “local and state parks.”
The complaint also alleged that Robinson provided the plaintiff and his classmates with alcohol and illegal drugs.
He claimed that the illicit activity caused him to suffer emotional distress.
The complaint alleged that Belair was negligent in failing to properly supervise Robinson and that he knew or should have known about Robinson’s allegedly inappropriate behavior.
The plaintiff alleged his “injuries” also resulted from the negligence of the school board.
Facing a jury trial set for September, the parties agreed to a May mediation session with a Superior Court judge.
Prior to the session, the plaintiff offered to accept $500,000 to settle the suit.
“The case did not settle for $500,000,” Claudia Baio, an attorney for Belair and the school board, wrote in an email response to a request for comment. “Beyond that, I am not at liberty to discuss the resolution of the matter.”
Kevin Brignole Jr., an attorney for the plaintiff, declined to comment.
