Trial Magazine

Doe, 9, suffered from developmental disabilities. On the bus home from school one day, bus driver David Lamb, 48, allegedly parked the bus in a rural location out of public view and sexually abused Doe.

Doe told her parents that Lamb had shown her videos of naked people and molested her. Doe’s parents alerted the transportation supervisor and school employees; however, Lamb continued to operate Doe’s bus.

Doe later told her parents that Lamb had sexually abused her on the bus numerous times and threatened to “do something bad” to her if she told anyone.

Lamb later admitted to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department that he had sexually abused Doe. He is now serving a prison sentence.

Doe, through a guardian, sued the Lucia Mar Unified School District, alleging sexual abuse of a minor, sexual harassment, negligence, and failure to report suspected child abuse. The plaintiff asserted that Lamb had a criminal record and should never have been hired. Once hired, the plaintiff added, the district failed to properly supervise Lamb after receiving complaints about his behavior.

The parties settled for $10 million.

Citation: Doe v. Lucia Mar Unified Sch. Dist., No. 18CV-0205 (Cal. Super. Ct. San Luis Obispo Cty. May 20, 2022).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members David Ring and Brendan Gilbert, both of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; and Robert May, San Luis Obispo, Calif.