The Case

• Case Name: Siegman v. Henry Friedman; Beverly Hills High School; Beverly Hills Unified School District, et al.
• Court and Case Number: Los Angeles Superior Court / 20SMCV00867
• Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, November 27, 2025
• Date Action was Filed: Friday, June 26, 2020
• Type of Case: Negligence
• Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Jay Ford III
• Plaintiffs:
  Lauren Siegman
• Defendants:
  Beverly Hills Unified School District
• Type of Result: Jury Verdict

The Result

• Gross Verdict or Award: $16,000,000
• Award as to each Defendant:60% attributed to Beverly Hills Unified School District; 40% to Friedman.
• Trial or Arbitration Time: aprox. 15 days
• Jury Deliberation Time: 2 days
• Jury Polls: 12-0

The Attorneys

• Attorney for the Plaintiff:

  Gammill Law Accident & Injury Lawyers by David Gammill, Torrance.

  Levato Law by Stephen Weisskopf, Los Angeles.

• Attorney for the Defendant:

  Tyson & Mendes by Harry Harrison, La Jolla.

  McCune & Harber LLP by Sabira Sherman, Los Angeles.

The Experts

• Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s):

  Cheri Adrian, Ph.D., psychology.

• Defendant's Medical Expert(s):Constance Dalenberg, Ph.D., psychology.

Facts and Background

• Facts and Background:Plaintiff attended Beverly Hills High School as a  student in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During that time period Henry 'Hank' Friedman was a teacher and coach at the high school. 
• Plaintiff's Contentions:Plaintiff contended that teacher and coach Henry 'Hank' Friedman used his position as a Beverly Hills High School teacher and coach to groom and sexually abuse her when she was a minor student.Plaintiff alleged that this negligent supervision and retention allowed the abuse to occur and caused her decades of severe emotional distress, trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Plaintiff further contended that Beverly Hills Unified School District and Beverly Hills High School knew or should have known Friedman posed a danger to students based on prior warning signs and complaints, but failed to properly investigate, supervise, or remove him from contact with students.
• Defendant's Contentions:The defendant district admitted the abuse happened, but maintained they did not know or should not have known the teacher was a threat.

Injuries and Other Damages

• Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff:Touching and abuse.
• Plaintiff claimed severe and long-lasting psychological and emotional trauma, including anxiety, depression, PTSD-type symptoms, shame, guilt, and loss of self-worth.

Special Damages

• Special Damages Claimed - Past Medical: Waived
• Special Damages Claimed - Future Medical: Waived
• Special Damages Claimed - Past Lost Earnings: Waived
• Special Damages Claimed - Future Lost Earnings: Waived