Jury finds Monticello school district liable after former student was bullied, attacked at school
Attorneys say the former student suffered facial fractures requiring surgery and has permanent scarring.
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A jury has found the Monticello Central School District liable for negligent supervision in a lawsuit involving a former high school student who was repeatedly bullied and attacked on school property.
Court records show the student was a junior at Monticello High School in 2022 when repeated bullying and harassment escalated into multiple attacks.
Her attorneys say the bullying and threats occurred throughout the beginning of the 2021-22 school year before escalating over three consecutive days in February 2022. They say one incident involved an attempted assault, followed by a physical assault in a girls’ bathroom the next day and another attack by multiple girls in a school hallway.
The lawsuit alleged the district knew about the bullying and intimidation before the attacks and failed to adequately supervise and protect the student.
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Her attorneys, Julie Iacobucci and Bill Thonus, say the student suffered facial fractures that required surgery. They say she has permanent facial scarring, may need another surgery and has received treatment for physical and emotional trauma.
“The school district knew about this pattern of bullying, this hostility,” Thonus told News 12. “They were aware of it, they had notice of it, and they failed to take the necessary steps to supervise the children.”
A jury found the district liable for negligent supervision earlier this month. Iacobucci says jurors were shown school disciplinary records and video evidence and heard testimony from former school employees, including administrators and security staff.
The Monticello Central School District acknowledged the jury verdict but would not comment on the specifics of the case because it remains in court.
In a statement, the district said student safety and well-being are top priorities and pointed to programs and procedures currently in place, including restorative practices, mediation, an on-site mental health clinic, social-emotional learning classes and procedures for reporting concerns under the Dignity for All Students Act.
The district said it would not provide any additional comment while the case is ongoing.
