A Chino elementary school teacher has been arrested and booked on the suspicion of child abuse after reports that a student was assaulted in a classroom. The City of Chino made a statement and confirmed that the teacher, 62-year-old Ray Crummitt from West Covina, was reported to have physically assaulted a student at EJ Marshall Elementary School; the school is located on the 1200 block of Telephone Avenue (specifically, at 12045 Telephone Ave, Chino, CA 91710). The school is a K-6 school. Based on Crummitt’s social media, he was a special education teacher – although this has not been confirmed by the district or the authorities.
Reportedly, Crummitt was booked at the West Valley Detention Center on the suspicion of child abuse. He was placed on administrative leave by the Chino Valley Unified School District. Details on the abuse have not been made available.
Parents drop their children at school expecting them to pick them up unharmed, expecting to hear fun tidbits from their day. Unfortunately, some parents are called before pickup time with news of their children being harmed – often at the hands of the teachers and other staff at the school.
Was your child physically assaulted by a teacher or staff at EJ Marshal Elementary School or any other school? If so, you may have the right to file a lawsuit. For more information about your right to file a lawsuit, contact us today. The experts here at the Normandie Law Firm are ready to provide you with the legal help that you need to fight for your rights and get justice.
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Physical Assault of Children at the Hands of Teachers and Adults at Schools
Assault can look different from case to case. Some examples may include the following:
- Pushing
- Punching
- Pinching
- Kicking
- Pulling hair
- Hitting with objects
- Grabbing
- Tackling
- Dragging
- Cutting
- Burning
- Choking
- Scratching
When considering the assault of a child at the hands of a minor, it is also important to note the size and strength difference between adults and children – something that might seem minor can significantly injure a child. Unfortunately, children are vulnerable at schools. Parents and students alike trust teachers and staff, teachers and staff that ultimately turn around and hurt innocent children.
Possible Injuries Caused by the Assault of Children at Schools
The assault of a child at school could lead to a number of injuries. Some of these injuries could include the following:
- Head injuries (including concussions and traumatic brain injuries)
- Neck injuries and back injuries
- Facial injuries (including broken nose, broken teeth, and broken jaw)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Scrapes and bruises
Of course, children can also suffer mental and emotional harm as a result of the assault that they suffered. This may include post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, fear, etc. For some, the mental and emotional harm stemming from the abuse can potentially last well into adulthood – and even for the rest of their lives.
Can I Sue if a Teacher Physically Assaulted My Child at School?
Yes, you could sue. If your child was the one assaulted in the incident mentioned above, you could sue the Chino Valley Unified School District. Some might think that they may only be able to sue the attacker; however, it is important to understand that victims and their families could sue any entity responsible for overseeing the employee that ultimately harmed the child.
This is based on something called vicarious liability, which makes employers liable for the actions of their employees. School districts have a duty to ensure that any prospective employees are subject to background checks. Once hired, the district must ensure that all employees undergo appropriate training (this includes initial training and ongoing training). Employees must also be properly supervised.
Of course, it is also essential for school districts to have the appropriate policies and procedures in place, like zero-tolerance policies, and procedures to make reports of suspected abuse. Most importantly, it is essential that schools and the districts take complaints/reports seriously. Although in far too many cases, child abuse is covered up by schools and districts.
When a school district fails to either identify and address the danger represented by staff (whether it is a teacher, office personnel, or any other staff), the district could be liable for all resulting harm – and can be sued. If you are interested in starting the legal process and pursuing a claim against the Chino Valley Unified School District or any other district, contact us today for the guidance that you need.
The Compensation Available for Child Abuse Lawsuits against Schools and School Districts
What compensation can you receive if your child was physically abused at school? Depending on the details surrounding the situation, claimants may be eligible to recover compensation for some of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Legal costs
Here at our firm, we believe that every victim deserves to recover the maximum payout available for their claims. We are fully committed to fighting for the rights of our clients and getting them the compensation that they are owed – whether this is via negotiating a settlement or taking the claim to trial to reach a verdict.
These types of claims can be worth anywhere from $300,000 to $1.5 million and sometimes even more. Case value is based on the specific details surrounding each claim, which normally includes the type of abuse suffered, the type of injuries, the extent of the injuries, whether injuries were long-lasting or permanent, and more.
You might also be wondering how long it could take to resolve these cases. How long will it take to get a settlement on this case? In general, these cases can take anywhere from just a few months to several years to settle. Although most cases can settle in under two years, some may take even longer to settle. Typically, the more complex claims will take longer to resolve.
How Long Do I Have to File My Lawsuit?
Every claim is subject to a statute of limitations or deadline to sue, which establishes the total length of time that claimants have to file lawsuits. When claimants fail to file within this deadline, they can lose their right to sue altogether, meaning that they cannot pursue claims. Under California law, assault and battery claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. However, claims that involve a government entity – like a school district – are subject to a six-month deadline. More specifically, parents of injured children will only have six months to file their administrative claim. Depending on whether they get a response or nor within the following 45-day period, then parents will either have another six months or two years to file their lawsuits.
We understand that it could be difficult to figure out what timeline applies to your specific claim. Because of that, we encourage anyone even thinking about pursuing a claim to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. Getting legal help will ensure that you have all the information that you need to file your claim on time.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm Today and Speak with a School Child Assault Attorney
Was your child physically assaulted by a teacher or any other staff at school? If so, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit and recover compensation. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our legal team has decades of experience handling assault and battery cases. We are not afraid to take on negligent parties and entities to fight for the rights of your child and get your family justice!
Our team offers free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our team will be available to answer all questions, address all concerns, and ultimately provide you with all the information that you need to either start or continue your claim. These free legal services allow us to remain accessible to anyone looking to get justice for harm suffered.
Our Zero-Fee Guarantee ensures that our clients never have to pay any upfront legal costs for our legal services. In addition, we work on contingency, meaning that you will not pay anything if your claim is not successful.
Do not wait any longer to seek legal representation for your school assault lawsuit. Our lawyers are more than ready to guide you every step of the way.
