Teachers and other school staff members have the privilege of helping to nurture the next generation of great minds and lifelong learners. They also have a major responsibility—the responsibility of providing students with a safe and enriching academic learning environment. Sadly, there are too many times when schools fail to meet their end of the bargain in that regard, and all too many students are abused or neglected when they should be growing and thriving because of school misconduct. If you or a loved one has been harmed as a result of a school staff member’s poor conduct and you live in the Los Angeles area, you should speak with a Hawthorne school misconduct lawyer to find out how a civil attorney can help you seek justice in the courtroom.
Not all forms of misconduct are overt acts of abuse by a staff member. In many cases, negligence can lead to terrible outcomes resulting in damages to persons and property. For example, if a custodian decides to use a more efficient, but less safe, means of cleaning the floors in the classrooms of a school and the new cleanser causes tiles to become damaged and become a trip hazard, that person could be held liable for their negligence.
If a teacher abuses a student and other staff members are aware of the abuse and fail to report it, the school itself could be held liable for negligence and the teacher could be held liable for the suffering they caused with their abuse. For example, if a staff member overhears a teacher shouting obscenities at a “problem student” and does not report the verbal abuse, he or she could be found liable for keeping silent about suspected misconduct, and the teacher could also be sued for their own abusive behavior.
If a student is injured because of negligence on campus, the school itself could be held liable for damages incurred as a result of that negligence. For example, if the school staff know that the school library is insulated with harmful materials that could be leaked into the environment and cause a health hazard but no one in authority takes steps to repair or remediate the issue, the school could be sued for damages due to their negligence.
If your loved one was victimized by a school faculty member in Los Angeles County, contact a Hawthorne school misconduct lawyer at Okabe and Haushalter. Our expert attorneys can take on your case in the civil courtroom and will fight to get your family the justice they deserve. Many victims are entitled to a monetary award of damages to compensate for the pain and suffering they endured because of school misconduct. Call today for a free case evaluation and let us help you find justice and closure for your family.
