JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Supreme Court says the Leake County school district can be sued after a special education student was beaten unconscious with a belt on a school bus in 2013.
The court ruled 9-0 Thursday to reinstate the lawsuit by the student's mother. A lower court had dismissed the suit, finding the district wasn't liable under state law.
Justices say state law requires school districts to "hold the pupils to strict account for disorderly conduct," meaning Leake County was required to discipline bullies.
The beating came after Leake Central Junior High School suspended a girl who had been bullying the student from riding the bus. But school officials then placed the bully on the bus that afternoon because she had no other way home.
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