LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A family has filed a lawsuit against the Fayette County School Board.

A mother claims a school bus employee punched her daughter in the face. The lawsuit says the girl is a special needs child who suffers from uncontrollable ticks.

 

On Tuesday, attorneys for the girl released video of the incident from April 2015 to WKYT. At the time, the girl was 12-years-old. In the video, you see the girl slap a special education worker who helps her. The employee, who the lawsuit names as James Coleman, then punches the girl in the face. The impact knocked out two of her teeth, according to the lawsuit.

 

The girl's mother is suing for punitive damages.

 

A jury found Coleman not guilty of assault in his criminal trial.

 

The school system told WKYT they could not comment on pending litigation.

 

The girl's attorneys tell WKYT they hope the video and lawsuit will bring changes to the school system's hiring practices.

 

WATCH| Family sues Fayette Co. school system after girl punched in the face

I can admit to having punched someone out of sheer reaction before. It was in my earlier teens and one of my good friends was just messing around when several of our friends were hanging out together one evening...he hid around a corner and jumped out to startle me when I didn't expect it. My reaction, which was 100% knee-jerk, was to step back and swing at him. I don't know for sure that I broke his nose, but it definitely blacked both of his eyes for a couple of weeks. He's one of my best friends, and I can say without a doubt that I didn't hit him out of any animosity or anger...it was just reaction.

 

That said, this is a child, and he is a grown man.

 

I can understand the courts not charging this man with anything criminal...but I can also certainly understand the family being due some damages, if not only to pay for the dental work to have dental implants put in place of the missing teeth. Any idea what kind of $$ they are asking?

Edited May 9, 20179 yr by Colonels_Wear_Blue

Surgical extractions of #s 9 and 10, Bridge from 8X11. I'll be happy to help this young lady out.:ylsuper:

I don't care if she has a tick or not. A grown man who punches a 12 year old girl belongs in jail.

 

I've probably said this dozens of times on here. But unless your life is truly is im danger there is never a reason throw fists with a woman let alone a girl.

Sue the man, not the school system.

Sue the man, not the school system.

 

I think they are suing the school system because the insurance is held by them.

How in the world was he not charged?

How in the world was he not charged?

Read post 1. He was charged and tried. He was found not guilty of criminal assault.

Read post 1. He was charged and tried. He was found not guilty of criminal assault.

 

Ahh, thanks. I was going off CWB's post.

 

That makes it even more ridiculous that they found him not guilty IMO.

It appears in the video he wasn't looking at her when she struck him in the face and he immediately struck back. It looked like an automatic reflex action. I've seen people like that, if you even lightly strike them with a joking slap they automatically strike back. A friend of mine's wife was sitting in his lap with her arm around him and slapped him ever so lightly on his cheek kidding around with him and he slung her onto the floor before he could even think. Within seconds he was apologizing. He told her it was just an uncontrollable reflex but to not do that anymore because it he had always been that way whenever anyone even barely smacked his face.

 

This fellow, or the school, no doubt is going to be hit in the pocketbook and very few people would react the way he did but I'm just saying that there are a small percentage of those that react exactly the same way he did when struck around their face. If she had struck his arm or back this probably doesn't happen. My guess is he can't even believe he did it.

It appears in the video he wasn't looking at her when she struck him in the face and he immediately struck back. It looked like an automatic reflex action. I've seen people like that, if you even lightly strike them with a joking slap they automatically strike back. A friend of mine's wife was sitting in his lap with her arm around him and slapped him ever so lightly on his cheek kidding around with him and he slung her onto the floor before he could even think. Within seconds he was apologizing. He told her it was just an uncontrollable reflex but to not do that anymore because it he had always been that way whenever anyone even barely smacked his face.

 

This fellow, or the school, no doubt is going to be hit in the pocketbook and very few people would react the way he did but I'm just saying that there are a small percentage of those that react exactly the same way he did when struck around their face. If she had struck his arm or back this probably doesn't happen. My guess is he can't even believe he did it.

 

JMO, but there's some issues going on below the surface if that's the way someone instinctively reacts to that sort of thing.

Finally watched the video. The 12 year old girl actually hit him pretty hard. He went down after his reaction to the hit. She was not a petite little gal either. Did he file charges against her or did she get suspended? Seems like we have not heard of her being dealt with in this situation. I understand her special needs and wonder how these types of situations get handled with kids that can become violent and those that are in charge. Tough situation for both involved. What I don't want to see is people afraid to deal with special needs kids, such as her, because it takes such a unique person to care for them. Yet likewise, you don't want some guy randomly pummeling students.

Finally watched the video. The 12 year old girl actually hit him pretty hard. He went down after his reaction to the hit. She was not a petite little gal either. Did he file charges against her or did she get suspended? Seems like we have not heard of her being dealt with in this situation. I understand her special needs and wonder how these types of situations get handled with kids that can become violent and those that are in charge. Tough situation for both involved. What I don't want to see is people afraid to deal with special needs kids, such as her, because it takes such a unique person to care for them. Yet likewise, you don't want some guy randomly pummeling students.

 

So do you not have an issue with him decking a 12 year old girl?

The guy should not have hit her, but her hit was not an uncontrollable tick. She hit him on purpose.