SLG SECURES FIRST DEFENSE VERDICT UNDER NEW JERSEY’S CVA

August 1, 2025: After a three-week jury trial in Burlington County, SLG attorneys Roshan D. Shah and Dennis Schmieder secured a defense verdict in Paternoster v. Maple Shade Board of Education, a case involving claims of sexual abuse that dates back to the mid-1980s. The plaintiff brought suit against the Maple Shade Board of Education alleging her former teacher Fred Grande sexually assaulted her in 1985 and 1986, when she was 13- and 14-years-old. The plaintiff filed suit in 2021 under New Jersey’s Child Victims Act (CVA), which re-opened the statute of limitations for claims dating as far back as the 1960s. Plaintiff claimed the Board was negligent in supervising her and employing Grande. The Board denied the allegations and asserted that it had no knowledge of any abuse or inappropriate conduct by Grande.

The trial commenced on July 7, 2025, and featured testimony from a half-dozen witnesses, including two experts. After approximately one hour of deliberations, the jury found in the Board’s favor on both claims, including gross negligence and negligent retention and supervision. The plaintiff had demanded $3 million prior to trial.

This is the first defense verdict rendered under New Jersey’s CVA. “We are pleased with the jury’s decision,” said Roshan D. Shah. “While the claims here engender deep sympathy, we’re grateful that the jury adhered to the law and focused on the demonstrated facts. This verdict affirms that the District acted appropriately under the circumstances and had no knowledge of any wrongdoing on Mr. Grande’s part.”
The Maple Shade Board of Education was represented at trial by SLG’s Roshan D. Shah and Dennis Schmieder. The plaintiff Lisa Paternoster was represented by Lara Gagnon and Parker W. Hall of Herman Law.