Crime & Safety
FCPS Offers SLHS' Lanigan $72K for Legal Fees
School board's latest offer to falsely accused gym teacher covers only a portion of his legal fees.
Fairfax County Public Schools says it will pay physical education teacher Sean Langian more than $72,000 for legal fees , The Washington Post reported.
The $72,838 is only a portion of the estimated $125,000 Lanigan, 45, spent defending himself against two felony charges in 2010. The Post reports that State law allows a county or state employee who is cleared of criminal charges to recover legal fees and expenses but not other costs, which for Lanigan were about $18,000.
Lanigan, who is the boys soccer coach at Herndon High School, first asked for $107,838 for his fees and expenses in July 2010, two months after his acquittal in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
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Lanigan then sued for the entire amount.
The school board agreed in a closed session Thursday to pay $72,838, the Post reported.
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A sixth grader at Centre Ridge Elementary in Centreville accused Lanigan in January 2010. Lanigan was charged with abduction and aggravated sexual battery of a child under 13.
A jury acquitted him on both charges and the girl also admitted she fabricated the story.
Lanigan was transferred from Centre Ridge to South Lakes prior to the 2010-11 school year.
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