A lawsuit has been filed against the Berkeley County School District and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office after a 12-year-old student allegedly suffered neglect following a sexual assault at Cane Bay Middle School. The father of the student claims that both the school district and the sheriff’s office failed to take appropriate action after the assault occurred, leaving the student vulnerable and without proper protection.
Lawsuit Details
The father of the 12-year-old student has filed the lawsuit against the Berkeley County School District, which includes a school resource officer (SRO) provided by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. The lawsuit claims that on or around September 23, two male students inappropriately touched the victim at school. The father’s legal team argues that despite being notified of the assault, the school staff and the SRO failed to provide adequate supervision or protection for the victim.
Continued Assault and Lack of Action
The lawsuit alleges that the two male students continued their inappropriate behavior after the initial assault. The student reportedly began showing signs of emotional distress, including self-harm, as a result of the ongoing abuse. Instead of offering support, the lawsuit claims that school faculty attempted to expel the victim, compounding the trauma he experienced.
Additionally, the legal documents suggest that the school district and sheriff’s office failed to investigate the sexual assault or follow proper child abuse reporting procedures. According to the attorney representing the victim, both institutions neglected their duties by not monitoring employees or ensuring the safety of the student.
Emotional and Physical Harm
The victim’s legal team argues that the student has suffered both emotional and physical harm due to the assault and the failure of the school district and sheriff’s office to take appropriate action. The lawsuit claims that the negligence shown by the school and the sheriff’s office directly contributed to the victim’s emotional distress and physical injuries.
School District’s Response
When asked for comment on the lawsuit, the Berkeley County School District stated, “BCSD will not offer comment on pending litigation.” This is standard practice for the district during ongoing legal proceedings.
This lawsuit highlights the importance of schools and law enforcement agencies taking immediate and effective action when incidents of sexual assault occur on school property. The failure of the Berkeley County School District and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office to protect the student and address the assault has led to significant emotional and physical consequences for the victim. The case is likely to set a precedent for how schools handle similar incidents in the future, emphasizing the need for greater accountability and better protection for students.
