A New Jersey school failed to protect girls from beatings by classmates, the lawsuit says

The parents of a Spotswood High School student filed a lawsuit against the district Monday, claiming their daughter suffered head injuries from three separate attacks by a classmate.

The parents argue in the lawsuit that their daughter told Spotswood High School administrators that the other student had threatened her, but no action was taken and she was repeatedly injured and bloodied in the attacks, two of which occurred at the school became.

Administrators at Spotswood Public Schools did not respond to requests for comment about the lawsuit.

The girl told the school administration on September 26, 2023 that a classmate had made threats to her. Later that day, when the girl stopped at Dunkin’ on the way home, the student attacked her inside the store, according to the lawsuit.

The attack left the girl with a bloody nose and a cut on her head that required medical attention. She has since been treated for recurring headaches stemming from the head injury, the lawsuit says.

The attack at Dunkin’ was reported to school officials and local authorities, the lawsuit says.

Still, the other student’s threats continued and the girl reported each threat to school officials, the lawsuit says.

On Feb. 8, the girl was “punched” by the other student in a school hallway, resulting in a head injury that required medical attention and “subsequent care for ongoing physical and mental sequelae,” the lawsuit says.

“Again, this attack was reported to the school administration,” the lawsuit states. Although she contacted school staff, the girl continued to receive threats and continued to report the threats, the lawsuit says.

On April 23, the girl was attacked a third time by the same student in a school hallway, resulting in additional head injuries that required medical attention and other physical and mental consequences, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit accuses the district of gross negligence and alleges that officials failed to address and prevent the assaults and harassment, in breach of their duties under New Jersey law.

The lawsuit also alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent supervision and failure to respond to the girl’s complaints that she was being threatened.

The lawsuit also accuses the district of attempting to conceal its failure to protect the district’s reputation, which exacerbated the girl’s suffering.