A verdict has been reached in the civil trial against Emporia State University and two former staffers of the university’s Center for Early Childhood Education.
Jurors ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the case on all counts, awarding the four families involved a total of $350,000 in damages. Two of the families involved will receive $100,000 in damages and two will receive $75,000. Each of the families were seeking $2 million in damages.
Following the verdict, one juror issued a statement saying, “We all feel everyone up the chain of command at ESU failed these children.” Statements from both sides in the case are pending.
Testimony in the trial began on Nov. 12. Families of four children accused former staffer Kimberly Schneider of abuse and demeaning conduct and they accused former director Keely Persinger of failing to act when concerns were brought up.
Officially, Schneider was accused of assault and battery. Persinger and ESU faced separate counts of negligent supervision and negligent retention, while Emporia State and Persinger also faced a joint count of negligence. Civil counts against the center were dropped last year.
Both Persinger and Schneider faced criminal charges last year after a joint investigation by the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Both also entered separate diversion agreements.
