From 1997 to 2023, Vincent Root was a special education teacher in good standing within the New Jersey public school system, primarily at Chatsworth Elementary School in Burlington County. However, a former Chatsworth student came forward in September of 2023 with allegations that Mr. Root had touched him inappropriately multiple times inside school buildings.
A subsequent investigation resulted in Mr. Root being indicted in October of 2023 on 28 total criminal counts related to sexual misconduct, and in May of 2024, he had additional charges filed against him on similar grounds. If this teacher sexually abused you or your child as a student at Chatsworth, you may have grounds to file a civil suit over your Vincent Root sexual assault allegations. A seasoned attorney from Phillips Law Group can help you with your case.
While employed at Chatsworth Elementary School, Vincent Root was responsible for the education and overall well-being of students with special needs. Following the initial allegations made against him by a former student in 2023, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office uncovered evidence that Mr. Root engaged in inappropriate physical contact with at least 14 male Chatsworth students during his tenure at the school, all of whom were on school property with Mr. Root when he committed his assaults against them.
Currently, Mr. Root is facing 14 counts of second-degree sexual assault and 14 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, with the potential for additional charges depending on what further investigations into his alleged crimes uncover. Importantly, however, it is possible to successfully sue over sexual misconduct accusations against Vincent Root even if his criminal trial is still ongoing, since criminal and civil cases have different standards of proof.
If Vincent Root is found civilly or criminally liable for sexually abusing students at Chatsworth Elementary, he will likely not be the only person found civilly liable for the harm caused by his misconduct. It may be possible to name administrators and other faculty members at Chatsworth as co-defendants in a sexual abuse lawsuit if they knew or should have known about Mr. Root’s misconduct but failed to do anything to stop or report it.
Similarly, the Woodland Township Board of Education and potentially the Burlington County authorities may hold partial liability. A qualified sexual abuse lawyer from Phillips Law Group can offer further clarification about who might be liable in a case like this during a private initial meeting.
The accusations levied against Vincent Root have shocked the entire Burlington County community, and it is possible that community members do not yet have a complete understanding of the immense harm Mr. Root caused. However, even if criminal proceedings are still ongoing, you can file a civil suit against him, school administrators, and other people who negligently enabled him to abuse you.
If you have questions about the Vincent Root sexual assault allegations that have already become public knowledge or would like to explore your options for suing over sexual abuse that you or your child experienced, a member of the Phillips Law Group team can provide the information you need during a free, no-obligation consultation. Call today to schedule an appointment.
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