Opinion ID: 217169
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The May 2008 Incident

Text: On May 8, 2008, Plaintiffs allege that L.E. was sexually assaulted by M.C. while riding the bus home from school. On May 9, 2008, after another teacher saw her crying in the lunch room and told her to go to the office, L.E. reported the incident and wrote the following statement: On May 8, 2008 I was sitting in the last seat on the bus (#170) and [M.C.] came back to the back of the bus and sat down in my seat. When he sat down he asked if he could see my breast and I said no like always. Then he stuck his hand up my shirt and I didn’t say anything. So when we were on Frank Rd. at the light and he asked me to give him head and I said no then he said “thats (sic) gay.” Then after that he took my hand and put it on the outside of his shorts and said is it big enough for me then I said nothing. After that he took my hand and put it on the inside of his pants after that he pulled it and forced my head down there and after about 5 sec. I picked my head up and said “now what” and he put his hand on my head again and forced me down there again. After all this he got of (sic) the bus and [C.M.] said did you give [M.C.] head and I said yes. Smathers states that L.E. was reluctant to come forward and that she was brought to the office by a teacher. After speaking with L.E., Smathers called the police and L.E.’s parents. Smathers also called M.C. into the school office and called M.C.’s mother. After interviewing other student witnesses, Smathers suspended both L.E. and M.C. for five days, concluding that the students had engaged in some consensual sexual activities and caused a disruption of school. Criminal charges were filed against M.C. and M.C. [pleaded] guilty to an attempted assault charge. L.E.’s parents took her to Jennifer Dorn, M.Ed., L.P.C.C. [(Dorn)], to begin counseling and therapy. Ms. Dorn concluded that L.E. suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. winter vacation, she was called into the school office, where Smathers, with Adams present, questioned her as to whether she had witnessed anyone touch B.R. or L.E. inappropriately on the bus.” -4- No. 10-4011 Evans, et al. v. Board of Education Southwestern City School District, et al.