Roseville, CA – ACTS LAW attorneys Christa Ramey and Schyler Katz obtained a $995,000 settlement in a school bullying case that occurred at the Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District in Placer County.
The lawsuit alleges the Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District and its staff failed to protect a student from repeated bullying and physical assaults while she attended Creekview Ranch School in Roseville, CA.
According to the complaint, plaintiff A.B. attended Creekview Ranch School during the 2021–2022 school year, and during that time, she experienced ongoing bullying, harassment, and physical attacks by other students on campus. The lawsuit claims that school officials, including teachers, administrators, and even the assistant principal, were repeatedly informed of the harassment but failed to take meaningful action to protect the student or stop the abuse.
The complaint describes several incidents that occurred on school grounds:
- In one incident, A.B. was struck in the face with a metal water bottle after accidentally bumping into another student. School officials allegedly minimized the incident and imposed a detention that the aggressor never served.
- In another incident, a group of students reportedly threw food at A.B. in the school cafeteria while other students recorded the event.
- The complaint also alleges that A.B. received threatening and racially abusive text messages from other students, including messages containing racial slurs and threats of violence. These threats were reported to school officials by both A.B. and her mother.
“School should never be a place where a student feels his or her own safety is at risk,” said attorney Christa Ramey of ACTS LAW. “This young girl wasn’t able to focus on her education because every day she was under constant threat of violence.”
The most serious incident allegedly occurred on or about February 28, 2022, when several students physically attacked A.B., grabbing her and slamming her head into school lockers. A.B. and her mother notified the school administrators about the threat. This threat was never investigated or taken seriously. The complaint alleges that despite the severity of the assault, school administrators failed to document the incident properly, did not send the student to the nurse, and did not promptly notify her mother.
As a result of the repeated bullying and assaults, A.B. suffered significant physical and psychological injuries, including head trauma, concussion symptoms, double vision, post-concussion syndrome, and emotional trauma. The complaint states that the distress was severe enough that A.B. ultimately stopped attending the school.
“Our client had every right to attend school and enjoy her childhood,” added attorney Schyler Katz. “She was left on her own, fighting for her own survival, and has had to restart her entire young life because of bullying and the school’s negligence.”
The lawsuit alleges that the school district breached its duty under California law to supervise students, maintain discipline, and protect students from foreseeable harm caused by other students.
The case is AB v. Dry Creek Joint Elementary, Placer County Superior Court, Case No. 8-CV-0049994.
About ACTS LAW
School-aged children often face unwanted, aggressive behavior that is commonly known as bullying. This behavior includes threats, the spread of rumors, physical assault and battery, inappropriate contact, and verbal torment. If the staff, teachers and/or administrators were aware of the bullying, there may be legal action you can take to help support your child and others. Contact ACTS LAW today for a free consultation. Our attorneys can review whether your child has a viable claim as a result of injuries suffered from bullying in school. Call 833-810-0330 for a free consultation.
