A former Canarsie High School student has filed a lawsuit against the New York City Department of Education, alleging she was sexually abused by former school aide Kevin Gilford Orr while she was a student and after she left the school, according to a press release from PFAU Cochran Vertetis Amala Law firm.
The lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court, alleges that the abuse occurred between approximately 2005 and 2009, beginning when the plaintiff was a minor.
It claims Orr used his position at Canarsie High School to gain access to the student and that school administrators failed to respond adequately to warning signs or concerns about his conduct.
“He was supposed to be my supporter, not my abuser,” the plaintiff said. “I trusted him to look out for me and instead he took advantage of my vulnerability and violated me and my trust. I’m bringing this lawsuit forward to ensure that abusers like him are held accountable and that the City and its schools can never again look the other way while a student is being groomed and taken advantage of."
The lawsuit alleges that the Department of Education failed to properly supervise or discipline Orr and did not take steps to prevent him from having access to students.
The allegations have not been proven in court. Orr has denied the claims, telling the New York Post that the alleged conduct did not occur and disputing the plaintiff’s account of when their relationship began. No criminal charges have been filed against him, according to current reporting.
PCVA Law, which represents the plaintiff, said it is continuing to investigate the allegations and is seeking information from former students and staff who may have relevant information about Orr’s conduct or the school’s response.
The lawsuit will now proceed through the civil court system, where the allegations and the responses from the defendants can be examined through evidence and legal proceedings. The case remains unresolved and further developments are expected as the litigation moves forward.
