Lawsuit alleges De Soto middle school teacher assaulted student

A lawsuit filed in federal court against the De Soto school district in Johnson County alleges that a middle school teacher assaulted a student last year.

The suit also alleges that the teacher “singled out” the boy during multiple incidents of verbal mistreatment at Lexington Trails Middle School.

Although the alleged physical assault was captured in part on a security camera and witnessed by other teachers, no known report was made to state authorities, according to the suit filed Tuesday in federal court in Kansas City, Kan.

During an April 2015 incident, the eighth-grader made an “offhand comment” before the teacher allegedly grabbed him by his neck in a “forceful and offensive manner,” according to the lawsuit.

The teacher then allegedly pushed the boy into a hallway and pressed him against a row of lockers.

Though the suit does not allege that the boy suffered any serious physical injuries, it says the incident exacerbated existing medical conditions and left him “psychologically traumatized.”

Since then, the boy has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has become depressed and withdrawn. He also suffers panic attacks and feelings of humiliation, the suit alleges.

A spokesman for the school district could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 12:19 PM with the headline "Lawsuit alleges De Soto middle school teacher assaulted student."