Lawyer speaks about $140 million judgment against former school teacher Michael Kelly

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — On Wednesday, November 8th, a New Hanover County judge awarded a $140 million judgment for 14 plaintiffs against former New Hanover County chemistry teacher Michael Kelly.

The judgment follows a $5.75 million settlement reached back in June with the New Hanover County Board of Education.

Kelly pleaded guilty in 2019 to multiple charges including sexual exploitation of a minor, indecent liberties with a child, and indecent liberties with a student.

While the money from the June settlement will be paid out by the New Hanover County School Board’s insurance, one of the lawyers with the firm who represented several of the plaintiffs says this latest judgment isn’t about the money.

“Yes, it’s important that, for closure, that these gentlemen understand that they are worth this amount,” Mary Charles Amerson, an attorney with Lea/Schultz Law Firm said. “The damages that they went through, the injuries they went through are worth this. And so, we don’t expect when he gets out that we’ll fully collect but we will do that if we have to and they are entitled to that money.”

Amerson said the settlement will also do more than allow the students abused by Kelly to begin the healing process. It will serve as a warning to other predators.

“One of the considerations in pursuing yesterday’s default judgment was sending a message, not only to Michael Kelly, that you can’t do this again to children. But for other predators in school systems to understand that this is not tolerated nor should it be. And so, we’re hoping that other districts are looking at this.”

Kelly was sentenced to 17 years in prison and is scheduled for release in 2035.

A civil lawsuit against another former New Hanover County teacher, Peter Frank, is still ongoing.