NJ School Faces Lawsuit After Wrongful Playground Accusation of 9-Year-Old Student
A complaint alleges a New Jersey school wrongfully accused a nine-year-old of sexual assault and brutally disciplined him. School authorities misconstrued minor playground behavior as a serious violation necessitating police and disciplinary action under the state’s anti-bullying law.
On May 22, 2024, the youngster and other students sang “Happy Birthday” during lunch. The lawsuit claims youngsters rushed under playground slides, touched perforated grates, and thought they were caressing a pink sweater. Administrators said he poked a female pupil in the buttocks and sang a disrespectful song about her. The responding officer said CCTV evidence indicated “natural curiosity,” not sexual misbehavior. School officials called it a juvenile prank called “Ddong Chim,” a “Korean sexual practise” and started disciplinary proceedings under the state’s HIP legislation.
His parents sued the district for calling him “white” when he is Korean-American and the victim “multiracial.” Due to misidentifications, the lawsuit alleges inherent bias in how the school presented and treated the child. The parents say the district hid security footage that would have exonerated their child.
The youngster received a disciplinary record after the school board confirmed HIB on September 6, 2024. The suit alleges six days of stress, insomnia, and focus issues. So the family sent the student to a private school outside the district. The case alleges due-process violations, discrimination, slander, and intentional mental agony against the child. The parents want the HIB finding withdrawn, any related paperwork removed, monetary damages, and a court order forcing the district to develop non-discriminatory inquiry and adjudication techniques.
The way schools manage playground disagreements and student relationships, especially when cultural misunderstandings and mislabeling arise, is concerning. School proportionality, investigation techniques, and disciplinary bias are questioned. This case may affect New Jersey schools’ minor misconduct, student investigations, and minority kid complaints.
Sources
Yahoo News
