ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The St. Paul School District contends a teacher who sued the district after he was assaulted by a high school student last year was at fault for his own injuries.
The district responded Thursday in U.S. District Court to the lawsuit filed by Central High School teacher John Ekblad.
Ekblad sued the district after a 16-year-old student choked him as the teacher tried to break up a fight in December. Police said the attack left Ekblad unconscious for 10 to 20 seconds.
In his lawsuit, Ekblad said he suffered a traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome. His lawsuit contends that the school district knew conditions at the school were dangerous and failed to take precautions to prevent injuries.
But the district counters that Ekblad’s injuries were the result “carelessness, negligence, fault and other unlawful conduct,” and denies that the district was negligent. In its response, the district also said that Ekblad assumed a risk when he started working for the St. Paul district. The district asked that Ekblad’s lawsuit be dismissed.
Ekblad’s attorney, Philip Villaume, said Thursday that “we vehemently deny” the district’s claims.
“He is the victim here,” Villaume told the Star Tribune.
The December assault came as St. Paul teachers were negotiating a new contract and prompted a strike threat by the teachers union. The eventual deal, approved by the St. Paul school board last month, includes the equivalent of 30 additional support staff for schools.
No court dates have been set for the lawsuit, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.
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