NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The mother of a ten year old girl says she was assaulted so severely in school, she had to be hospitalized. She claims the attack happened while the teacher watched and didn't intervene.
Lee Williamson, the mother of the little girl, sent her attorney to the Davidson County Courthouse to file a lawsuit against Metro Nashville Public Schools for $300,000. "If the system doesn’t follow the rules, the rules are useless," Rocky McElhaney, Williamson's attorney, said.
Williamson's lawsuit claims her daughter was bullied repeatedly for months by two classmates at Gra-Mar Middle School. It began with smaller acts. "The hair was cut, the backpack was cut, she was punched, harassed, made fun of," McElhaney said. Each time, Williamson claims the school never investigated or took steps to keep her daughter safe. "To this point, we’ve heard nothing from Metro that is satisfactory as to why they failed to follow the safety rules."
Finally, a few months ago, the ten year old was reportedly choked, bitten, scratched and kicked in the ribs -- leaving behind large bruises and marks. "The system failed the student, Taylor, and ultimately she was hospitalized from the assault," McElhaney said.
The lawsuit seeks money for the child's medical expenses, but is also seeking to financially punish the district for now following their own anti-bullying policies. McElhaney says, much like a failing report card, he hopes these papers get the school district's attention. "In hopes that next time a student will be protected, before someone is seriously injured or killed."
A spokesperson for Metro Nashville Public Schools tells us they cannot comment on ongoing court cases, but they did send us a copy of their policy that says they thoroughly investigate any allegations of bullying.
