A lawsuit against the Hemet Unified School District alleging a Hemet High School employee slammed a student on the ground in 2017 was settled Oct. 25.
Gladys Graham, a minor, sued the school district, the city of Hemet, Riverside County and the California Department of Education Oct. 26, 2018, for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring, supervision and retention.
The claims against Hemet and the state’s Department of Education were later dismissed.
The suit alleged Gladys approached a student who had been bullying her for two months, whom Gladys had reported to the school for her bullying. The school did not do anything to stop the bullying, the suit claims.
After a verbal confrontation, an employee of the school district grabbed Gladys by the chest, and slammed her down on the ground, the suit alleged. Gladys did not know who the employee was, or their position, but claimed the school did not take any remedial measures for the employee’s action.
Gladys incurred medical bills, sustained disability, and was psychologically damaged as a result of the conduct, the suit claimed. The school employee was known to have violent tendencies, the suit claimed.
Daniel Azizi and Christoffer Gaddini of the Downtown L.A. Law Group, LLP, represented Gladys, who sued through her Guardian Ad Litem Triny Graham. Maria Aarvig and Daniel Ferris of Aarvig & Associates represented Hemet Unified School District.
San Bernardino Superior Judge Chad Firetag presided.
Case No: RIC1822252
Read the complaint here.
