The parent of a Binghamton High School student is suing the school district for negligence. The lawsuit alleges the student was physically abused by classmates and school officials didn’t do enough to stop it.
The civil lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Broome County Supreme Court. Defendants include Binghamton High School, the school district, the school board and the City of Binghamton.
In initial court filings, plaintiffs described a series of bullying incidents that occurred in the first few months of the student’s freshman year at Binghamton High School in the fall of 2021.
In one incident, an older classmate was suspended after pouring milk on the student. Less than a week later, a different classmate poured bleach over the student's head, causing chemical burns on her skin, eyes and throat.
In court documents, the student’s mother said after the bleach incident, a school nurse did not help her child in a timely manner. She alleges the delay may have caused lasting vision damage.
Initial court filings show school officials did intervene on several occasions, but the lawsuit argues it wasn’t enough to protect the student from continued bullying.
In an emailed statement, a district spokesperson said the district prioritizes students' physical and emotional safety, but school officials are not in a position to comment on pending litigation.
Several months after the events described in the lawsuit, Binghamton High School drastically expanded security protocols in the wake of an altercation involving students and an unaffiliated adult.