A former Catholic school physical education teacher has been awarded $US362,653 in compensatory damages after a US jury found two families had spread false statements that had damaged his reputation.
The San Jose Mercury reported the schoolgirls had branded a teacher as a "perv" and "creeper" and claimed he had inappropriately touched children and peeked into their restroom.
The teacher said the claims had ruined his career, despite school officials and police clearing him of sexual misconduct.
He filed a $1 million lawsuit in 2011, contending he was the victim of a "conspiracy" by "classic parent bullies" and their daughters to get him fired from the school.