H&P Law’s Marjorie Hauf recently represented the unnamed family of a child who was repeatedly sexually assaulted at Ronzone Elementary School. Hauf’s representation made it easier for the family to make their child’s voice heard after Clark County School District (CCSD) teachers ignored her pleas for help.
It was through Hauf’s efforts that the family secured a $200,000 settlement from the school district. Hauf’s recollections on the case highlight the negligence the child and her family faced as well as the quick response from the district once it realized the impact its teachers’ negligence had on a student’s well-being.
Accusations of Sexual Assault at Ronzone Elementary School
In February 2023, a kindergarten-age girl reported that one of her peers, a boy, “encouraged” her to come into the boy’s bathroom of Ronzone Elementary School with him. There, he sexually assaulted her. When the girl reported the incident to her teacher, 8 News Now and Yahoo News note that her teacher told her–not the boy–“don’t do that again.”
When the same boy coaxed her into the bathroom again the next day, assaulting her for a second time, the girl reported the incident to a different teacher. That second teacher failed to report the incident through the appropriate channels. As such, neither the girl’s parents nor the school principal received word about the incident.
Finally, the girl turned to her mother for support, leading her family to file a lawsuit against CCSD in November 2023. “Had this child not felt so comfortable with her mother, this could’ve been a very different situation,” Majorie Hauf reports in a televised 8 News Now interview.
CCSD’s Failure to Act
Teachers within CCSD and other school districts are mandatory reporters. They have a legal obligation to bring incidents of sexual assault and abuse to the attention of authority figures, and they must take all reports of abuse seriously. Failure to do so can lead to incidents like these, in which a student repeatedly withstood assault despite seeking help.
Not only did the teachers involved in this incident not report the girl’s assault to the school principal or authorities, but they also failed to report any wrongdoings to CPS. In scolding the victim, they threatened to make the situation considerably worse–but fortunately, the student’s trusting relationship with her parents protected her from further harm.
Marjorie Hauf Takes the Case
Marjorie Hauf of H&P Law began working with the girl’s family–all of whom will remain unnamed for confidentiality reasons–to make CCSD and its teachers understand the severity of their negligence. Fortunately, when Hauf served the school with the family’s lawsuit, the district responded quickly in its effort to resolve the case.
However, the school’s quick response prevented Hauf from engaging in discovery, meaning that she couldn’t understand why the victim’s requests for help had gone unaddressed or if similar incidents had occurred with those teachers’ knowledge. She does, however, state that the school took the family’s concerns seriously and strove to undo the harm done to its student.
When asked about the other child involved in this case, Hauf stated that she views the boy involved in this incident as a victim of negligence, not a knowing perpetrator. There are no reports with details about how the boy and his family have responded to Hauf’s lawsuit or if any of these parties will face criminal consequences.
What to Expect From Ronzone Elementary School and CCSD in the Future
The teachers who failed to report their student’s abuse have not been charged with any crimes at this time. When asked for comments about any upcoming litigation, CCSD didn’t respond.
The victim involved in this case is no longer a student within the school district. It’s been reported that the $200,000 settlement will go toward her continued rehabilitation and counseling.
H&P Law Offers Legal Representation to Everyone in Need
In a statement provided to the Las Vegas Review Journal and reported by MSN, Hauf reports that she and the girl’s family were thankful that CCSD quickly took responsibility for this instance of abuse. It was a relief to all parties involved that the district didn’t drag the family to court over its employees’ gross negligence.
The services that Hauf provided to this family in need are exactly the kind of representation H&P Law strives to offer to all of its clients. The firm’s team of experienced personal injury lawyers wants to make it as easy as possible for victims of negligence and abuse to navigate the civil system and secure the financial support they need to recover.
If you or someone you love is struggling to recover from abuse or a personal injury accident, you can book a free case consultation with H&P Law today. Our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers can break down your right to legal action and represent you as you fight for loss-based compensation.
