In a lawsuit filed on May 10, 2024, plaintiffs Hassan and Chadi Marrouche, on behalf of their minor daughter S.M., have brought a case against the Jefferson Parish School Board, Ace American Insurance Company, Dr. James Gray in his capacity as Superintendent of Jefferson Parish Schools, and Phabion Woodard. The case is filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana under the court case ID 2:24-cv-01206-LMA-DPC.
The lawsuit alleges sex discrimination, negligent hiring and supervision by the defendants leading to a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Louisiana laws prohibiting negligent hiring and supervision of schoolteachers. It details that S.M. was sexually assaulted by defendant teacher Phabion Woodard at Riverdale High School during school hours. The insurance company Ace American Insurance is implicated as it is believed to be the general liability insurer of Jefferson Parish School Board.
The plaintiffs are seeking to restrain these alleged practices by the defendants and obtain monetary relief and other damages for these violations. They have requested a jury trial for this matter.