SPENCER – A mother is suing Roane County Board of Education after she claims her daughter was sexually assaulted on a school bus.
Spencer Middle School Principal Jackie Durst and an unknown bus driver were also named as defendants in the suit.
On Nov. 20, 2015, A.M. was 13 years old and was on Bus Number 52 where John Doe was driving the bus, according to a complaint filed April 3 in Roane Circuit Court.
D.M. claims A.M. was sexually assaulted by an unknown 16-year-old student that was on the bus.
The sexual assault occurred at the time with Doe was responsible for the supervision and safety of the students on the bus, according to the suit.
D.M. claims it was the policy of Roane County Schools to ensure that male and female students did not sit together on buses and older students were separated from younger students, however Doe did not enforce this policy regarding seating on the bus, giving rise to the sexual assault.
The plaintiff and A.M.’s father reported the incident to school authorities, but no action was taken against Doe, according to the suit.
D.M. claims the defendants failed to ensure that their policy for students on school buses was followed and failed to train Doe to ensure that he complied with and enforced policies and procedures to protect students.
The defendants failed to make the school bus safe for students and caused A.M.’s damages, according to the suit.
D.M. is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Travis A. Griffith of Griffith Law Center.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Anita Harold Ashley.
Roane Circuit Court case number: 18-C-10