Joplin High School officials are failing to keep their hallways supervised between classes and are not dealing properly with bullying, according to a lawsuit filed today in Jasper County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit, filed by Michelle Davis, representing her son, lists Joplin Schools and High School Principal Randy Oliver as defendants.
Davis claims that on January 29, her son, a Joplin High School student, was "approached and attacked by a fellow student," causing him to sustain a "concussion, orbital bone fracture and nasal bone fracture."
According to the petition, the beating came after previous bullying that had been inflicted on the student and that district officials were aware of it.
The first count of the lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the school district, with a second count alleging negligent supervision against the district and Oliver.
Count three claims negligent supervision of employees by the district and Oliver, with a fourth count alleging failure to respond to student-on-student bullying by the district.
Defendant Joplin Schools possessed knowledge of bullying inflicted upon Plaintiff by the student in question before the incident that led to Plaintiff’s injuries;
Defendant Joplin Schools failed to act upon the bullying inflicted upon Plaintiff prior to Plaintiff’s injuries;
Defendant Joplin Schools failed to foresee that prior bullying inflicted upon Plaintiff would lead to Plaintiff’s injuries;
Davis says her son has medical expenses related to the beating and will have more medical expenses in the future. She asks for "fair and reasonable damages" and costs.
Davis is represented by Charles J. Sticklen of the Sticklen & Sticklen Law Firm, Joplin.
30 comments:
Joplin High is out of control whether on campus or activities. Students rule that place
This wouldn’t happen in Neosho under Richard Fretwell’s administration.
This is not abnormal for the high school. If you know someone there you are golden, if you don't then they don't care.
This is completely uncalled for and the inaction of the school to handle it before it escalated to this point needs addressed across all levels.
The lack of inaction by the school before it got to this point should be addressed across all levels.
Probably done by an athlete. They get away with everything in that school.
These athletes are untouchable because they are considered quality citizens.
Bullying is rampant in that school. Theft is also rampant in that school.
All joplin school are horrible. They should all be investigated truthfully. Several instances have happened at SMS. My own daughter has been bullied repeatedly for over 6 months and nothing had been done.
This is what happens when you have a building with 2,300 students and roughly 125-130 teachers and support staff. 18-1 student to teacher ratio. No will admit that it’s TOO BIG OF A SCHOOL. Instead of building a $192 million dollar college campus sized high school (nicer than anything MSSU has) Joplin Schools should have split into two schools again and brought back Parkwood and Memorial post tornado. I understand it’s too late now but something tells me somewhere down the line Joplin Schools will ask for another bond issue to build a second high school. Could be 20-30 years from now, but I predict it’s coming eventually.
Joplin allows issues like this to breed. Students have barely seen Oliver all year. My daughter said he doesn't come out of his office. Aside from positive events where he can show off, he hides on his office. The grade principals are expected to do everything in conjunction with the counselors. He is just a figure head and has very little interaction with students. The JHS environment is so toxic that faculty is leaving the high school hand over fist and most of the reason is his poor leadership and no accountability over the issues at the high school.
NMS is just as bad as SMS. They don't act on anything unless it's victim blaming until people are swinging on each other.
Let's blame the schools and not the parents and home life of these kids. These schools are under so many mandates due to lack of parenting it's crazy. Very little time is spent on education in our schools. It's spent on picking up the slack of terrible parents. Parenting today absolutely sucks and the majority kids are completely out of control. Schools and personnel can barely keep their heads above water. Start parenting and quit raising these ferrell children. It's not cute anymore!
Yes, Students should face immediate consequences - including expulsion and/or criminal charges for bullying - I don't care who they are or what sport they are in - when you cannot control the student body and create a safe place for all the students - then the School Board, Superintendents, and Principals, even the Teachers should all be held accountable - children should not have to fear going to school.
If it takes multiple Legal Lawsuits and or Criminal Investigations and Criminal Charges - to bring this School District into compliance - then lets begin and shutdown and stop allowing Students to run the Schools.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - Protect Your Children - Don't Allow them to become Victims.
It does have to start with the Parents. Schools are not there to raise your children; they are there to teach your children. If your children cannot behave then keep them home and school them there - Stop making Society take care of them because of your lack of Parenting Skills. If your children need to bully others, get them help...
I see the "I got stuffed in a locker in High school" crowd is weighing in heavily. "Bullying" is a healthy part of any normal society. It calls out degenerate and anti-social behaviors. Shame is a great motivator, as well.
Okay and who is saying the kid was being bullied? Is this from the kids or mother’s mouth? Is there record of this or just hearsay? Maybe he was the bully and the kid got tired of the shit and handed him a much needed ass whooping?
OMG...... a healthy part of society?? Healthy part of society is having children that respect others... sorry but if you cannot see that then you are the one to blame with your own children. Because children learn and pick up what they are taught. Both at home and especially at home. So you bully your children to shame them into doing what exactly?
9:04AM and 9:35AM - You two losers are just ignorant - your comment of "Bullying is Healthy and Part of a Normal Society" - shows what a Moron you are - any type of bullying shows a sociopathic and antisocial behavior - do you still live at home in your parents' basement playing video games because you cannot maintain a job?
For any Child to come forward and tell anyone that they were Bullied or Intimidated is a Very Difficult and Emotional Situation and for you two to think that is some Right of Passage is Offensive and Sick and Says what kind of Bazaar People you are - -
Anyone that Bullies a Child - Should be Criminally Punished and Kicked Out of School - NO TOLLERANCE - In a Normal and Healthy Society - Show Respect for Others - Even if you have No Respect for Yourselves.
I happen to know about this situation and I know both parties involved. It's not as black and white as what the media is portraying. Neither party is innocent. Both students are at fault for bullying. To keep minors names out of this I will word it like this. The student that got beaten up and was bullied was actively bullying the other kids younger brother (who has developmental disabilities). When bigger brother found out he started bullying his brothers bully . While I don't agree with the way things were handled I do believe that the honest truth needs put out and not portrayed as though the one student is innocent.
9:04AM and 9:35AM, What basement did you to slugs crawl out of? Bullying is not healthy or a part of any society and blaming the victim or their victim's family for their child being bullied, is the most cowardness and asinine statement I have heard in a long time. Go back into your holes you spineless slugs.
Joplin High School is a dumpster fire. They don't do anything unless the garbage gets outside the dumpster. They just wait for the next incident to react to rather than being proactive. Instead of being a grade principal they need to promote Holly Yust. The staff and students love her plus she is tough but fair.
Healthy?! That’s just WRONG!
Feral, you mean?
🤡
And where is that clown? Oh administrative leave
Absolutely
Yeah and the kids who try to stand up for those getting bullied land a 9 day suspension while the bullies get to keep knocking heads in.
East is a nightmare too.
Just locker room fun
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