A lawsuit has been filed against the Berkeley County School District (BCSD) and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office following allegations of negligence in the handling of a 12-year-old student’s sexual assault at Cane Bay Middle School. The lawsuit, filed by the student’s father, claims that both the school district and a school resource officer from the sheriff’s office failed to protect the victim after the assault took place.
Allegations of Negligence and Continued Abuse
The lawsuit documents allege that the sexual assault occurred on school property around September 23, when the 12-year-old was inappropriately touched by two male students. The father claims that, despite being notified of the incident, both school staff and the school resource officer failed to provide adequate supervision and protection for the victim.
According to the lawsuit, the two male students continued their abusive behavior after the incident, which contributed to the victim’s emotional distress and led to self-harm. The documents also claim that, instead of addressing the abuse, the school district faculty attempted to expel the victim, further compounding the trauma.
Claims of Physical and Emotional Harm
The student’s attorney asserts that the victim has suffered both physical and emotional injuries as a result of the sexual assaults, which were allegedly exacerbated by the negligence of the school district and the sheriff’s office. The lawsuit also claims that both entities failed to investigate the assaults, neglected to monitor school employees, and did not follow child abuse reporting procedures or regulations.
Legal Action and Damages Sought
The lawsuit seeks to recover damages, including compensation for the physical and emotional harm the student has endured. As of now, the BCSD has not provided any comment on the pending litigation, stating, “BCSD will not offer comment on pending litigation.”
This lawsuit highlights serious concerns about the handling of sexual assault cases in schools and the alleged failure of responsible authorities to protect vulnerable students. The case will continue to unfold, with legal proceedings determining whether the school district and sheriff’s office will be held accountable for their alleged actions.
