Abigail Zwerner v. Newport News School Board
This is a lawsuit filed by Abigail Zwerner against the Newport News School Board, Dr. George Parker, Ebony V. Parker, and Briana Foster Newton in the Circuit Court for the City of Newport News in Virginia. Zwerner, a first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School, was attacked by a student who brought a handgun to school, resulting in injuries. She is seeking damages of $40 million. The defendants argue that Zwerner's injuries fall under the exclusive coverage of Virginia's Workers’ Compensation Act, which provides the exclusive remedies for work-related injuries. However, the plaintiff argues that the defendant violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by disciplining Zwerner without first conducting a "manifestation determination" to determine if the behavior was a manifestation of the disability. The lawsuit highlights the problem of violence in classrooms and the increasing number of attacks on teachers by students. It also involves Virginia's Workers' Compensation Act, as Zwerner was allegedly assaulted by a co-worker. The lawsuit seeks compensation for the alleged violations of IDEA and ADA, as well as workers' compensation benefits for the assault. The case is currently being heard in the Newport News Circuit Court.
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