The family of a student molested at Florida A&M University’s lab school by another student says they will file a lawsuit unless FAMU agrees to a million dollar settlement. The case follows the conviction of 19-year-old Ralph Monroe II who is currently serving a mandatory life sentence for the crime.
Between February and May of 2011 Monroe, then a senior football player at FAMU DRS, molested at least two students under 12. The incidents happened after school. And now the family of one of the victims says it plans to file a lawsuit against FAMU for negligence. The family’s attorney Larry White, says the university’s lab school failed to secure the area where the younger students were:
“You normally have security, you normally have limited access to facilities like that, and you normally have someone where you sign in,” White told reporters Wednesday during a press conference to announce the family's plans.
White says Monroe did not have a reason to be at the school after hours even though he was a student too. FAMU-DRS has separate areas for older students. University officials say they can’t comment on future litigation, but a release sent back in December says the school has increased after-hours security, changed drop-off and pick-up patterns, and purchased a new background check system for visitors and volunteers.
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