Family wins $45-million judgment over alleged physical abuse at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified

A family won a $45 million judgment against Santa Monica-Malibu Unified after suing the district for alleged physical abuse against its autistic twins. The family alleged that a teacher’s aide used hand sanitizer to inflict pain, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Teacher’s aide Galit Gottlieb has been employed with the district since 2016 as a paraeducator. The district told the Times it had not received any other complaints against her outside of that of the twins’ family.

The school district is deciding whether it will appeal the verdict or the size of the judgment, which is equivalent to nearly a quarter of the district’s general fund, according to the Times. 

The district has not indicated whether it is still employing Gottlieb.