LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles school district has parted ways with a lawyer who successfully defended it in a sexual abuse lawsuit by blaming a 14-year-old student for having sex with a teacher.

The district's general counsel said Friday it is removing attorney W. Keith Wyatt from future legal matters because of inappropriate remarks he made about the case.

Lawyers and advocates for sexual abuse victims criticized Wyatt's strategy of blaming the 14-year-old girl for agreeing to the sexual relationship.

The district was cleared last year of wrongdoing by a civil jury, though the teacher was imprisoned after a criminal trial.

The district had claimed it had no knowledge of the relationship and wasn't responsible.

A spokesman says Wyatt worked at a private firm retained by the district and had handled school litigation for 27 years. He had 18 cases pending.