Several security guards at Raub Middle School attacked a child two years ago, according to allegations in a recently filed lawsuit.
The student did not pose any threat to the guards when they were attacked in October 2022, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit, filed this month in federal court by a woman on behalf of the child, names Allentown School District, Raub Middle School, Principal Jose Delgado, then-Superintendent John Stanford and 10 unnamed security guards.
The lawsuit states that the child was “needlessly and senselessly attacked” Oct. 14, 2022, by 10 security guards. The child, then 4-foot-11 and weighing 80 pounds, suffered severe orthopedic, neurologic and emotional injuries, according to the complaint, and required medical and dental treatment.
The suit says the district and officials were aware of and “recklessly and deliberately indifferent” to the need for training, policies and oversight of security guards “relating to its student body who were susceptible to confrontations and/or assaults by its security.” It called the attack “so egregious as to shock the conscience.”
The complaint filed with the lawsuit does not detail what led to the alleged attack, nor does it indicate the connection between the woman who filed the lawsuit and the child. The child’s age and gender are not included, either.
The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $50,000.
A message left for Jerry Lindheim, who is listed as the plaintiffs’ attorney, was not returned Wednesday.
In a statement, the school district noted the alleged incident happened before Carol Birks was named as superintendent.
“The alleged incident occurred in early October 2022, before Dr. Birks joined the Allentown School District. Since assuming leadership, Dr. Birks and her administration have continued to prioritize the safety and well-being of every student in the district,” the district said.
“The Allentown School District takes any allegations of compromised student safety very seriously, regardless of when they were made. As this matter is subject to litigation, we are unable to provide further comment at this time,” the statement continued.
Stanford abruptly resigned from the district in late October 2022 after less than a year on the job.
The lawsuit was originally filed in Lehigh County Court in October, but was transferred to federal court this month upon a motion from the school district.
This story has been updated. The lawsuit names former Allentown Superintendent John Stanford. His name was misspelled in an earlier version.
