Lawsuit: Georgia school mishandled student assault

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia middle school is accused of mishandling a case of classroom assault by a boy against a girl.

The Times of Gainesville reports that the lawsuit says the boy harassed the girl by drawing sexual images and making inappropriate comments in April 2017 before cornering her in a classroom where he physically assaulted and “battered” her.

It says the school failed to investigate, and that a Hall County School District employee told the girl that reporting what happened could hurt the boy’s future. It says the girl’s mother learned about what happened from a neighbor.

The lawsuit says the school district violated the girl’s Title IX protections against a hostile educational environment.

Hall County Schools spokesman Gordon Higgins had no immediate comment.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.gainesvilletimes.com