Cal Swim Coach Receives $2.85 Million Settlement in Abuse Case

By Lance Howland

The Moraga School District has settled for $2.85 million with former student Kristen Cunnane in a lawsuit criticizing the district for failing to act in order to report and prevent sexual abuse in the 1990s. 

In a statement released late Tuesday, Superintendent Bruce Burns said, "We want to again apologize to Ms. Cunnane and to her family for the abuse she suffered as a child and for the pain it has caused. It is our hope that this settlement will help Ms. Cunnane continue to heal, and allow the district to continue working to educate and protect the children entrusted to us."  

The settlement will be paid by the school district's insurer. The district's statement is attached to this article. 

Cunnane suffered abuse in the 1990s by two teachers from Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School. Cunnane, a Walnut Creek resident, is an assistant swim coach at the University of California at Berkeley. 

Cunnane, in a statement released Tuesday night, told the Contra Costa Times: "I am grateful that the district, its insurers and I have reached a resolution, and that current students and staff will not be adversely affected in any way. I look forward to continuing to raise awareness around preventability and encouraging school districts everywhere to do everything they can to keep their schools safe."