A Boston family has initiated legal proceedings against Boston Public Schools, a transportation contractor, and a local charter school after their nine-year-old daughter was allegedly sexually assaulted by an 11-year-old student on a school bus. Lawyers representing the family claim these assaults took place over seven months during the school year 2022-2023 and have been the cause of severe trauma for the young girl.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by attorneys from Morgan & Morgan and filed in Suffolk Superior Court, implicates the City of Boston, Match Charter School, Transdev Services, and other individuals, including a school bus monitor and driver. The firm Morgan & Morgan stated that despite the bus requiring mandatory video equipment, no evidence could be found on any of the dates when the alleged assaults occurred, according to an interview with Boston 25.
The nine-year-old girl, forced to leave school before finishing the fourth grade, told two friends about the assault, who then alerted the school staff. Boston Public Schools commented, "We were devastated to learn of this disturbing alleged incident five months after it occurred," as reported by the CBS News Boston. BPS also stated that the onboard cameras had already erased the footage due to the delay in reporting the assaults.
Nnenna Ude, the Executive Director of Match Charter Public School, responded to the lawsuit by outlining the school's commitment to student safety and stating that the school does not manage the transportation aspect themselves. Ude also mentioned, "While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we took all appropriate steps to immediately notify the proper authorities, work closely with the families involved, and secure the safety of the students." This statement was relayed by the The Boston Globe.
The legal action aims to uncover negligence and hold all responsible parties to account. Attorney Nina Bonelli iterated, "This case is this child's only chance for justice," indicating the critical importance of the legal pursuit for the victim's family. Meanwhile, John Morgan, founder of Morgan & Morgan, emotionally underscored the gravity of the case, saying, "Children are the cornerstone of our communities, and schools are meant to nurture and protect them." He vowed to ensure that "every person responsible is held accountable for their suffering."
