The mother of a girl attending the Estelle Academic Center in Cahokia filed suit against Cahokia School District #187 in United States District Court claiming her daughter was attacked by a school official.
Brenda Wilson claims that her daughter was attacked by Phyllis Jackson on Sept. 20, 2005, when the official allegedly grabbed hold of her daughter and physically shook and dragged her from a hallway and into a conference room.
Wilson claims Jackson's actions constituted deliberate indifference to her daughter's due process rights not to have excessive force used against her under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
According to Wilson, the school breached its duty to her daughter and acted with willful and wanton disregard for her rights when it hired Jackson as principal of the Estelle Academy when it had reason to know of her propensity to physically attack, abuse and cause harm to students under her supervision.
She also claims the school district failed to properly supervise Jackson and failed to take all reasonable precautions to protect the safety of her daughter.
Wilson claims her daughter suffered pain, humiliation, embarrassment, mental and physical trauma and distress of a severe and permanent nature and has been required to undergo medical and psychological care and will continue to require such care in the future.
Represented by William Kopis of Belleville, Wilson is seeking damages in excess of $450,000, and an additional amount in punitive damages plus all costs of the suit.
The case has been assigned to District Judge Michael Reagan.
06-CV-369-MJR
Cahokia parent sues school district for daughter's attack
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