Lawsuit claims autistic student forgotten on bus, locked in garage

GRETNA – A local public school system is being sued after an autistic student was allegedly forgotten and left on a bus after it had finished its route and was locked in a garage during the school day.

Arkeydiah Williams, individually and as a natural tutrix of her minor child, filed suit against Jefferson Parish School Board and two unknown employees of the Jefferson Parish School Board in the 24th Judicial District Court on Aug. 15.

Williams claims her autistic daughter off was picked up a bus stop and was in the care Jefferson Parish School Board, through its employees who were to transport to Catherine Strehle Elementary School on Aug. 21, 2012.

The plaintiff alleges because her daughter is autistic she needed special care, but that she was left unattended on the school bus and the defendants did not ensure she exited the school bus when it arrived at its destination. Subsequently, Williams asserts her daughter was transported to a garage where the school employees locked her inside the bus and left the premises.

The plaintiff claims she was not aware that her daughter was unaccounted for until the school called her to inquire of her whereabouts. Williams alleges that she made several calls to employees at the school in an attempt to find her daughter before she was eventually located in the school bus hours after she had been abandoned, according to the lawsuit.

The defendant is accused of negligence, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring of employees, negligent retention of employees and false imprisonment.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, loss of self-esteem, medical treatment, psychiatric and psychological counseling, loss of educational and career opportunity, travel expenses, inconvenience, legal expenses and economic damages and losses.

Williams is represented by Kenneth M. Willis of the Baton Rouge-based Law Firm of Kenneth M. Willis Inc.

The case has been assigned to Division E Judge John J. Molaison Jr.

Case no. 729-982.