FCPS Offers SLHS' Lanigan $72K for Legal Fees

Fairfax County Public Schools says it will pay South Lakes High School physical education teacher Sean Lanigan more than $72,000 for legal fees incurred when a student at his former school in Centreville falsely accused him of molesting her, The Washington Post reported.

The $72,838 is only a portion of the estimated $125,000 Lanigan spent defending himself against two felony charges in 2010. The Post reports that State law allows a county or state employee who is cleared of criminal charges to recover legal fees and expenses but not other costs, which for Lanigan were about $18,000.