2 boys' parents settle with alleged assault victim

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A teenage girl suing seven boys and their parents over an alleged group sex assault in Madison has settled claims against the parents of two of the boys.

The girl and her mother on Tuesday withdrew allegations from their lawsuit in New Haven Superior Court that the two boys' parents were responsible for their children's conduct, according to court records. Terms of the settlements weren't disclosed, but records show one of the boys' parents offered the alleged victim $5,000 to drop the parental liability claims.

The girl's lawsuit alleges that several boys inappropriately touched her at a New Year's Eve party at one of the boys' homes in 2009 when she was 13. The lawsuit said the girl was intoxicated on beer and vodka. The Associated Press does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault in most cases.

The girl and all the boys were students at Polson Middle School in Madison at the time of the alleged assaults. Several boys were also arrested on criminal charges and served probation and community service, according to a parent of one of the boys.

Civil allegations in the girl's lawsuit including sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and parental liability remain pending against all seven boys and five of the boys' parents.

Erin O'Leary, a lawyer for the girl, declined to comment on the settlements Wednesday. An attorney for one of the couples that settled declined to comment, and a lawyer for the other couple that settled didn't immediately return a message.