Family of disabled man abused by ex-professor awarded $4M

NEWARK, N.J. >> The family of a New Jersey man with cerebral palsy who was sexually assaulted by a former Rutgers University professor has been awarded $4 million by a judge.

The mother and brother of the victim, identified as only “D.J.” in a related criminal case, sued Anna Stubblefield and Rutgers in February 2013, NJ.com reported.

The lawsuit stated that D.J.’s brother attended one of Stubblefield’s classes at Rutgers-Newark in 2008.

Stubblefield, a proponent of facilitated communication, offered to help D.J. at his brother’s request. Facilitative communication is a contentious technique used by educators that helps the disabled communicate, often through typing.

The West Orange, New Jersey, woman claimed that D.J. communicated his consent to sexual activity to her.

D.J.’s family successfully argued that Stubblefield’s communication with him was an act and she violated his rights by abusing him.

“My clients are victims of a horrible predator,” attorney Charles Lorber said.

Stubblefield, who was at one time the chair of Rutgers-Newark’s philosophy department, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence. She was convicted in 2015 of sexually abusing D.J. in the criminal case last year.