Nathan Hale Ray Parent Suing District

The mother of a student is suing the district on accusations that her son suffered permanent injuries following a fight at the school in 2010.

Claudia Alford says in her lawsuit, filed against the East Haddam Board of Education, that the fight took place in June of 2010 in plain view of at least one teacher, and perhaps several, at the high school. She says in the legal action that another male student at Hale Ray “maliciously engaged in a physical altercation with the minor plaintiff which resulted in the minor plaintiff sustaining serious injuries, which injuries consisted of a separated right shoulder, with attendant pain and discomfort.”

The lawsuit states the altercation was “in full view of employee(s),” of the school board, “who failed to take any measures to prevent such incident, and failed to intervene and prevent said incident from escalating.”

East Haddam School Superintendent Ellen Solek said she could not comment on the lawsuit because it is pending litigation.

Alford says in her legal action that the school board was negligent because it failed to evaluate the teacher or teachers’ fitness to supervise students. She also argues that the teacher or teachers who witnessed the fight were negligent because they failed to use reasonable care in supervising the students and failed to take action to prevent the injury to her son.

“As a result of the aforesaid incident the minor plaintiff has suffered and will continue (to suffer) a diminishment of his ability to carry on and enjoy life’s activities … and will continue to require continuing therapy and long term treatment…”

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages from the school district in excess of $15,000.