Lawsuit Against Religious School : Victim of Molestation Settles for $715,000

An El Toro religious school has agreed to a $715,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by a former student who was molested by a teacher eight years ago, her attorney said Friday.

Shannon Casey, 21, of Huntington Beach sued Abiding Savior Lutheran School and former teacher Dale Burgdorf in 1985, two years after a jury convicted him of molesting her. Burgdorf was given probation and sentenced to six months in jail.

Casey’s attorney, Richard Farnell, said the out-of-court settlement was reached last week and the money will be paid by the school’s insurance carrier, Preferred Risk Insurance Co. He said the settlement will cover both the school and Burgdorf. School officials could not be reached for comment Friday.

According to testimony at Burgdorf’s criminal trial, the teacher molested the student, then 13, while she worked for him as a baby-sitter. During moments alone with her in his home, in a classroom and at a family night dinner at school, he engaged in sexual foreplay short of intercourse.

The girl did not reveal what had happened until she saw a family counselor. But the counselor did not report the incidents to law enforcement authorities. Instead, he sent the girl home and began counseling Burgdorf, who was married and had three children. It wasn’t until the girl told another family counselor of the incidents that authorities were called in.

Burgdorf denied the charges during the trial, but a last-minute prosecution witness testified that Burgdorf also had molested her for three years, beginning when she was 15.

During the trial, friends of Burgdorf sent the judge letters and a petition for leniency signed by people who knew or had known him. According to Farnell, school officials also supported Burgdorf and did not immediately remove him from his teaching post.

“The school completely stood behind him in regard to the prosecution of the case. Instead of protecting Shannon, they signed petitions, and teachers and administrators went to the trial,” Farnell said.

As a result of her ordeal, Farnell said, Casey became involved with drugs and alcohol and experienced other psychological problems.