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Recent Developments: Lawsuit Against School District for a Bus Monitor Abusing a Special Needs Child

The parents of a child "who suffers from severe mental disabilities" sued the Beacon City School District, in Dutchess County, alleging that a bus monitor physically and mentally abused their child. The parents sued the School District for, among other things, assault, battery, and negligent supervision.

The case went through the fact-finding phase (called "discovery"), and the School District made a motion to dismiss at least some of the claims. The motion was granted, but an appeals court reversed the lower court. 

The appeals court first noted that 
[s]chools have a duty to adequately supervise the students in their care, and may be held liable for foreseeable injuries proximately related to the absence of adequate supervision
and 
[t]he standard for determining whether the school has breached its duty is to compare the school's supervision and protection to that of a parent of ordinary prudence placed in the same situation and armed with the same information.
The negligent supervision claim required proof that the School District knew or should have known that the bus monitor had a propensity to engage in this kind of behavior. The court said the evidence showed there were, in fact, prior complaints about this person:
Contrary to the Supreme Court's determination, the school defendants failed to establish, prima facie, that the school district had no specific knowledge or notice of [the bus monitor's] propensity to engage in the misconduct alleged. In fact, the evidence submitted in support of the school defendants' motion suggested that the school district had received prior complaints of [the bus monitor's] misbehavior toward students on the bus.
What a terrible story if the allegations are true, especially considering the victim is a special needs child. If you believe that a school employee wrongfully treated your child, contact my office at (516) 252-9500 or at greg@gcurrylaw.com.
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