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JURUPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA (February 7, 2023) – A Jurupa Valley freshman was violently beaten by other students outside of Patriot High School, according to KTLA.
Riverside County officials are saying that the attack took place on Wednesday. The Patriot High School student was attacked by multiple students in the parking lot of the Jarupa Valley school shortly after students were released home.
Video of the attack shows at least three students punching and kicking the student who was curled up in a ball on the ground. The victim’s cousin attempted to get involved in order to break up the fight.
However, one of the assailants approached him with a knife and warned against intervening. The victim’s mother said that her son was previously threatened on social media over a dispute about a girl.
The victim’s father said that he was angry school officials did not call 911 after the attack. When he arrived at school he took his son to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion.
A full investigation into the senseless attack at Patriot High School remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Jurupa Valley High School Assaults
Physical assaults in high schools across the United States are much more common than many people realize. According to the Centers For Disease Control, “An estimated 18 physical-fighting incidents occurred per 100 students per month. However, the incidence of physical fighting was four times higher for male students (28 incidents per 100 students) than for female students (7 incidents per 100).” There are a number of steps that high schools can take in order to reduce the prevalence of on-campus fights.
- High schools should have a clear code of conduct that is enforced through disciplinary action.
- High school students should be properly supervised throughout the school day.
- High school should do their best to foster a culture of respect, inclusivity and tolerance.
Schools have a legal responsibility to create a reasonably safe environment for the students that they care for. This includes taking steps to protect students from physical assaults by other students. To that end, schools must properly supervise the students in their care. They may also need to hire security guards and take other measures to protect students. The level of security that a school may need depends in part on any history of previous assaults that take place at the school. Schools with little to no history of student assaults will typically need less security than schools in high-crime areas.
When a school fails to take reasonable actions to protect the students in their care, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Consider, for example, Taylor v. Oakland Scavenger Co., 17 Cal. 2d 594 [110 P.2d 1044], “It is the duty of the school authorities to supervise at all times the conduct of the children on the school grounds and to enforce those rules and regulations necessary to their protection.” In general, schools must take action when students are threatened and there is a rising risk of on-campus violence. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any on-campus school fight.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- School records should be examined.
- A personal injury attorney should be consulted.
Assaults are one of the most difficult things that children can go through. Even after the physical injuries from an assault have healed, victims can be left with long-term psychological trauma. This can manifest through nightmares, anxiety and insomnia. The family of any child that is injured while at school may have legal recourse through a personal injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Jurupa Valley High School Assault
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to the student injured in this attack and his family. There needs to be legal consequences for the perpetrators of this heinous crime. It is our sincere hope that Patriot High School will take measures to protect the students in their care. It is completely unacceptable that the school reportedly failed to contact law enforcement after this student was attacked.
Have you or someone that you care about been the victim of an assault in a Riverside County high school? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that victims of assaults are aware of their rights and that school districts are held to account for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375
