Student with disability punched in jaw while worker films and laughs, WI suit says
.png "A Milwaukee Public Schools student was assaulted while a school employee recorded it and laughed, a lawsuit says.")
A Wisconsin woman is suing after she says her son was assaulted at high school while a school employee recorded it and laughed with other students.
The lawsuit filed April 18 in Milwaukee County is against Milwaukee Public Schools and two school employees.
McClatchy News reached out to Milwaukee Public Schools for comment April 22 but did not immediately hear back.
On April 2, 2024, the student, who has an “intellectual disability,” was standing near a security desk at Bay View High School speaking with two school safety assistants and several other students, the lawsuit said.
During the conversation, the student and another student began having a “more intense” interaction, according to the civil complaint.
The two safety assistants laughed throughout the conversation and continued speaking with the students, the lawsuit said. Then, as the student walks away from the group, he “bumps” the other student, the complaint said.
The employees and other students continue to laugh, the lawsuit said.
Then, one of the employees takes out her phone and begins recording as the student walks back toward the group, according to the complaint. The student and the other student have a “10 second interchange” and the other student punches him in the jaw, the lawsuit said.
The student walked away holding his jaw and that’s when the employee stopped recording, the complaint said.
The employee then shows the video to another student, and they both watch it “multiple times” laughing, according to the complaint.
Neither of the employees reported the interaction to the school, according to the lawsuit.
The student had a fractured jawbone and had to get his jaw wired shut, the lawsuit said. He also had a to get a tooth extracted and “requires ongoing medical and dental treatment for his injuries,” according to the complaint.
The employee who recorded the incident was placed on notice then quit prior to a school hearing, the lawsuit said. A disciplinary hearing found that the other employee was “unprofessional and negligent,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit is asking for an undetermined amount in damages.
