NEW ORLEANS — The mother of a high school sophomore is suing the charter school that he attended claiming that he was harassed by a teacher in the form of sexually explicit cell phone messages several times throughout his studies.
Letetia Lowe filed suit against The Louisiana Department of Education, The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Institute For Academic Excellence and Damon Williams in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on June 12.
In December 2014, plaintiff states that her son became a student at Sophie B. Wright Charter School, operated by Institute for Academic Excellence. On Dec. 13, 2014, she claims that he began receiving sexually explicit material/photographs on his cell phone from Damon Williams, a teacher. According to the plaintiff, Williams was sending the explicit material to him in an effort to begin an improper, illegal sexual relationship.
The school board is accused of failing to perform an appropriate and complete background check on Williams, negligent hiring, failing to supervise, negligent training and failing to provide a safe and secure environment for students. She seeks an unspecified amount in damages for son's emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, attorney's fees, as well as her own loss of consortium.
The plaintiff is represented by Stephen M. Huber, Brian P. Marcelle, Gina M. Palermo of Huber, Slack, Thomas & Marcelle, LLP
This case has been assigned to Div. C Judge Sidney H. Cates IV.
Case no. 2015-05662.