Collinsville District 10 sues First Student to indemnify from student suit

The Collinsville Community Unit School District Unit No. 10 claims it should not be held liable for damages a student incurred on a school bus.

The school district claims a student, identified only as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against it and First Student, alleging Jane Doe suffered unspecified injuries while riding on the school bus.

However, the school district claims it should not be named as a defendant in the suit because First Student contracted with the school district to provide bus transportation for its pupils.

First Student should pay any defense costs the school district incurs in defending the suit against it and should pay the school district back for any monetary damages the pupil might win in the suit, according to the complaint filed Aug. 13 in Madison County Circuit Court.

"The District contends that it is in no way legally responsible for the damages alleged in the Underlying Complaint," the suit states.

In addition to indemnification costs and a monetary judgment should the court rule in the pupil's favor, Collinsville is seeking other relief the court deems just.

It will be represented by Barney R. Mundorf and David L. Mannix of
Guin, Martin and Mundorf in Collinsville.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-868.