Mother files notice she will sue Port Washington library, saying tutor who allegedly molested her daughter, 7, wasn't properly supervised

A mother whose 7-year-old daughter was allegedly sexually abused by a Port Washington Public  Library tutor plans to sue the institution for negligent hiring and not properly supervising a volunteer, records show.

The woman, whom Newsday is not naming to protect the identity of her minor daughter, brought the girl to the library for the free service to help her with her math and English studies, said her lawyer, Terence Scheurer.

The attorney filed the notice of claim, a notification of her intention to sue, naming the library and the board of trustees, on July 17. The tutor, Taylor Lindberg, 18, has been criminally charged in connection with this incident and a second one at the library.

The mother took her daughter to the library on May 11 and 18 and then stayed in the building while her daughter received the extra help.

“My client stayed,” the lawyer said. “She would wait, while only feet away, her daughter was sexually assaulted.”

According to prosecutors, sometime during the session, the tutor led the little girl into the bathroom where he sexually abused her around 5 p.m. He’s been charged with sexual abuse of a minor and child endangerment.

Scheurer said the girl approached her mother, visibly shaken by the encounter and told her what happened after the second incident.

“The little girl was terrified,” the lawyer said.

Lindberg was also charged with another May 18 incident in the Port Washington library in which he allegedly sexually molested another child. He’s been charged with three counts of sexual abuse and one count of child endangerment in that case.

Lindberg is represented by different defense lawyers, Brian Griffin and David Chefec, in the two cases. Neither lawyer returned calls seeking comment.

Scheurer said through his suit he is seeking to find out how Lindberg was hired and supervised.

"They will be held accountable,” the lawyer said. “This little girl loved the library, but she’s not going back to that library in any way. She’s questioning everything. She doesn’t trust anyone for obvious reasons.”

Port Washington Library Director Keith Klang said in a statement: "We are very distressed about incidents reported to have occurred in the library on Monday, May 11th, and Monday, May 18th. The library was first made aware of these allegations on Monday, May 18th. The police were contacted immediately, and we are taking this situation extremely seriously. The suspected individual was a volunteer tutor, not an employee of the library, and has been banned from the premises.

"The Port Washington Public Library values the health and safety of all our patrons, especially children, and is thoroughly reviewing our safety protocols. The library cannot comment further on an active investigation or any pending litigation, and we are cooperating fully with law enforcement regarding the situation," the statement said.