Former Students Win Landmark Case Over Early 2000s Abuse Claims
The Tamalpais Union High School District agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle lawsuits filed by four former students sexually abused by tennis coach Normandie Burgos in the early 2000s. Alexander Harrison, now a sexual abuse attorney, received $11.5 million of the December 2024 settlement after a Marin County jury found the district liable for failing to protect him. The settlement follows Burgos’s 2019 conviction on 60 counts of child molestation, for which he is serving a 255-year prison sentence. District superintendent Tara Taupier confirmed the district’s portion of the payment totaled $1.1 million.
5 Key Points
- Tennis coach Normandie Burgos sexually abused students under the guise of “body fat tests” from 1999 to the early 2000s.
- The school administrator witnessed the abuse but failed to intervene, according to court testimony.
- Burgos received a 255-year sentence after a student recorded admission of sex with a minor.
- Alexander Harrison won $11.5 million after the district lost the September 2024 appeal.
- Three additional victims settled for the remaining $6 million in December 2024.
The Pattern of Abuse Emerged in the Late 1990s
The earliest reported sexual abuse by Tamalpais Union High School tennis coach Normandie Burgos began in 1999 when he raped and sodomized a student who remains anonymous. Burgos conducted his abuse under the guise of “body fat tests,” taking students to private rooms where he would undress them on massage tables before assaulting them. Court documents revealed that during one incident, a school administrator witnessed the abuse but failed to intervene, instead making a joke and leaving the scene. This pattern of institutional failure would continue for years, affecting multiple students.
Victims Faced Hostility After Reporting Abuse
When Alexander Harrison came forward to report the abuse in 2006, he encountered significant resistance from the school community. In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, Harrison described how former teammates and friends packed the courtroom to support Burgos, snickering while he testified. Attorney Mark Boskovich detailed the long-term trauma experienced by the victims. “These men have gone through life-changing moments over the years,” Boskovich said. “They have contemplated suicide. They have turned to drugs and alcohol to mask and hide the pain. Relationships have been ruined.”
Justice Secured Through Secret Recording
The breakthrough in the case came in 2019 when Burgos was convicted on 60 counts of child molestation after an athlete secretly recorded him admitting to having sex with a minor. The conviction resulted in a 255-year prison sentence. In 2022, a Marin County jury found the school district liable for failing to protect Harrison from Burgos despite evidence of misconduct. The district contested this verdict but lost its appeal in September 2024, resulting in an additional $1.5 million interest payment.
Settlement Concludes Decades-Long Legal Battle
In December 2024, the Tamalpais Union High School District agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle lawsuits from four former students, with Harrison receiving $11.5 million. Superintendent Tara Taupier confirmed the district’s portion totaled $1.1 million, stating, “We hope this brings closure to all those involved.” Harrison, now in his late 30s, works as an attorney at sexual abuse law firm Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, where he specializes in helping other survivors after spending nearly a decade prosecuting child molesters and rapists as a deputy district attorney.
FAQ
Q: How can I find out if I’m eligible to pursue a case for sex abuse?
A: If you or a loved one has been impacted by sex abuse, you may have options for legal action. Contact our legal experts to learn about your rights and start a free, confidential case review.
Q: What is the total settlement amount in the Tamalpais Union sexual abuse case?
A: The Tamalpais Union High School District agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle lawsuits filed by four former students, with Alexander Harrison receiving $11.5 million and the district directly paying $1.1 million.
Q: When did the sexual abuse by tennis coach Normandie Burgos occur?
A: The earliest reported abuse began in 1999, with the first victim reporting being raped and sodomized by Burgos. The abuse continued through the early 2000s, affecting multiple students at Tamalpais Union High School.
Q: What led to Burgos’s conviction?
A: Burgos was convicted in 2019 on 60 counts of child molestation after an athlete secretly recorded him admitting to having sex with a minor. He is currently serving a 255-year prison sentence.
Q: How did the school district respond to abuse allegations?
A: According to court testimony, a school administrator witnessed the abuse but failed to intervene. The district initially contested a 2022 jury verdict finding them liable but lost their appeal in September 2024, resulting in an additional $1.5 million interest payment.
Q: What happened to Alexander Harrison after reporting the abuse?
A: Harrison, who reported the abuse in 2006, faced hostility from former teammates who supported Burgos during court proceedings. He later became an attorney specializing in sexual abuse cases and spent nearly a decade as a deputy district attorney prosecuting child molesters and rapists.
Q: How did Burgos conduct the abuse?
A: Burgos used “body fat tests” as a pretext, taking students to private rooms where he would undress them on massage tables before sexually assaulting them. This pattern of abuse affected multiple students over several years.
Citations
Tomoki Chien (December 28, 2024). Marin school district to pay $17.5M in sexual abuse lawsuit. SF Standard. www.sfstandard.com/2024/12/27/tamalpais-union-tennis-coach-sexual-abuse-settlement/
