A parent is suing the Jamestown Public Schools District for allegedly being negligent in protecting its students from bullying.
Tammy Hagga, who is the parent of J.H., alleges that her daughter was “bullied, harassed, discriminated against, and physically and emotionally harmed” at Jamestown High School during the 2023-24 academic year.
The lawsuit filed in Chautauqua County State Supreme Court further states that a District employee was negligent in an incident that happened on January 9, 2024 that resulted in J.H. “striking the ground with violent force.” It went on to allege the employee had previously engaged in “negligent, culpable and/or unprofessional conduct” and that the district was aware of this behavior.
Hagga is requesting compensation for her daughter’s “past and future conscious pain and suffering, consequential damages, and punitive damages, together with disbursements and costs.”
Hagga is being represented by Adam Mandell of Kingston, New York.
JPS Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker, in a reply to WRFA’s request for comment, said the district had not yet been served the lawsuit and had nothing “…to add at this time as we will have to review the filing with our attorneys.”
Oh you mean like the girl who was beaten near Lincoln School this week. Or my nephew who was beat up coming home from Jefferson School last year.
It’s about time a parent steps up to these schools. They need more accountability actions.
The whole thing was caught on cameras and footage was reviewed and it was determined to be accidental and that JPS was not at fault. Why did take this Karen 14 months to sue?
It didn’t take her 14 months to take action. It was a process that she had been actively working on with her lawyer for over a year. She had been dealing with the school her daughters entire time being at that school trying to gain results from the school itself as it should of been but was getting nowhere with it. There was an incident where the principal was caught on camera putting his hands on her daughter after this other female student started a fight with her, the same student who had been bullying her for over a year. The school tried hiding this footage from Tammy because they knew they were in the wrong. Unfortunately going through a process of suing a school is not an over night job, it took time. But Tammy didn’t stop until something was done, which I commend her for because I haven’t seen any other parent this dedicated to having the school held accountable for their negligence.