Student with special needs was assaulted at SC high school, lawsuit says
A parent is suing Richland School District 1 after her daughter, a student with special needs, was allegedly beaten by classmates at C.A. Johnson High School earlier this year.
The school failed to provide the proper precautions to prevent it from happening, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of Modesty Jackson, and a school resource officer used excessive force in stopping the fight.
Jackson told Richland 1 over the phone and by email that her daughter was repletively picked on, and on Jan. 29, 2025 a teacher was informed that another student intended to physically harm Jackson’s daughter during school, according to the lawsuit.
Later that day, the students was “attacked” in the hallway between classes by four classmates in front of “many students and employees.” She was punched and kicked in the head.
The school’s resource officer broke up the altercation and grabbed the student “by her hood” and dragged her down the school’s hallway.
Teachers and administrators left her “unlawfully” unsupervised and failed to protect her, the lawsuit says, and this resulted in the student’s physical assault and injuries. According to the lawsuit, they should have known the student could be severely injured without proper supervision.
Despite failing to act, failing to provide security and keeping information about the incident “secret,” the student’s teachers and aides were not investigated, the lawsuit says, and were allowed to keep their employment with the district.
Because of the assault the district’s failure to act, the student has “suffered both physically and mentally.”
Officials with Richland School District 1 declined to comment on the pending litigation.
The lawsuit accuses the school district of negligence and recklessness, and says those involved failed to follow the school code of conduct for Richland 1. It also claims that the plaintiffs have incurred “substantial” medical, hospital and psychiatric expenses.
The school resource officer failed to deescalate the assault and used excessive force, according to the lawsuit.
Plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial to award damages, along with compensation for court costs.
