PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The family of a middle school girl who was attacked by another student with a metal Stanley mug last year is suing the North Penn School District, arguing that school officials could have prevented the assault.
In April 2024, a recently enrolled student at Pennbrook Middle School hit a fellow seventh-grader over the head repeatedly with a metal Stanley travel cup in the cafeteria during lunch. The victim bled profusely and required hospitalization for a head injury.
According to court documents, lawyers for the plaintiff said the district was aware that the new student had a history of behavioral issues and violent outbursts that necessitated special attention, which had caused her to bounce around multiple schools in and out of the district. They also said the student threatened the victim both at school and online.
The school district was allegedly told about the student’s threats to the victim and other students, including a so-called “hit list” naming potential targets.
Lawyers for the plaintiff said district officials reassured the victim that they would handle the situation and she could safely come to school. But on April 17, lawyers said the student who had made the threats was left unsupervised during lunch, and that’s when she hit the victim repeatedly.
Lawyers for the plaintiff argued the school district and Megan McGee-Heim, the former director of special education and student services, are culpable, alleging they improperly placed the student in the school, did not give her the supervision she required to keep others safe, and did not heed students’ warnings of the eventual attack.
The family is seeking compensation for damages and demanding a trial by jury.
KYW Newsradio reached out to the plaintiff’s lawyers and the North Penn School District but has not heard back.