Orange County School Negligence Lawyer
Sending your child off to school for the first time can be overwhelming—and when you find out that they’ve been the victim of sexual abuse, bullying, or poor supervision, guilt often follows. If you suspect that your child has been the victim of school negligence in Orange County, it’s time to talk to our team of school negligence lawyers at DeWitt Algorri & Algorri about your options.
At DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP, we have a strong team ready to handle legal claims just like yours. Attorney Sam Soleimany focuses on government liability cases, which often includes public school districts that fail in their obligations to students.
DeWitt Algorri & Algorri are school injury & accident attorneys who serve all of Orange County from our office located at 4220 Von Karman Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92660 and we can meet with you in person, or over Zoom. Find out how we can help with your school negligence claim by calling us at 855-WINNING (946-6464) of filling out a confidential contact form.
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“I have had the pleasure of knowing Ernie Algorri of DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP for well over 25 years. Over these years Mr. Algorri has counseled me on numerous legal issues affecting me and my family.”
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In today’s hectic world, your child may face a long list of potential dangers every time they step in the door at school. Some of the most shocking headlines you’ll see in the news are cases of sexual abuse—children who have been forced to return to school to face their abuser day after day, thanks to policies that failed to protect them and school staff that set out to victimize them. Sexual abuse cases do not just refer to young children; they also include teenage victims who may have been groomed into believing that their abuser genuinely loved them. While schools are supposed to have safeguards in place to prevent ill-intended adults from having access to innocent children, these safeguards fail—or are not enforced—far too often.
Avoidable injuries are another serious issue for schools throughout Orange County. Children are supposed to be under age-appropriate supervision during gym, on the school bus, and at recess. When there’s inadequate supervision, often due to budget cuts, young children are at greater risk of injury. On top of that, any bullying that occurs is less likely to be caught by an adult who can do something about it. There’s no shortage of kids and teenagers who have taken their own lives due to ever-worsening bullying and cyberbullying.
Bullying and cyberbullying are another area where schools often fall short. Children who are regularly targeted by bullies not only fail to get the education they deserve—because who can focus when they are always waiting to get attacked?—but they also suffer grave emotional and mental harm.
Your School’s Obligation to Your Child
Schools have a wide range of ethical and legal obligations to the students they care for. They are obligated to meet a general standard of care, which means taking reasonable steps to protect children from avoidable harm. Schools must respond quickly to emergencies, intervene in situations that may cause physical or mental harm to children, and ensure that they are properly supervised.
Furthermore, school representatives must take practical steps to protect children from abuse, violence, harassment, and bullying. This includes both abuse from inside and outside the school. For example, if a child comes to school with telltale signs of domestic abuse and mandated reporters fail to report it to the proper authorities, they may be considered negligent. If schools fail to intervene when a child is being bullied, they have fallen short and failed that child. This extends to cyberbullying; although cyberbullying often occurs outside of school hours, the effect it has on a child’s education and mental health makes it a school matter.
How Your Child May Be Impacted
Children who suffer school negligence in Orange County often experience a wide range of short-term and long-term issues. These include:
- Fear of school: It’s natural that a child who consistently suffers at the hands of a teacher or fellow student would develop an intensely negative reaction to any school setting.
- Inability to concentrate: This inability to concentrate is often the result of hyperawareness that comes with bullying, sexual abuse, or constantly feeling in danger at school.
- Poor grades and academic performance: A child who cannot focus or concentrate on their education is far more likely to see significant drops in their academic performance.
- Mental health concerns: Anxiety, depression, and PTSD can all affect children who suffer school negligence.
- Isolation and loneliness: Kids who are the target of bullies may find it safer not to interact with peers at all, rather than risk rejection once again.
- Distrust of authority figures: When authority figures fail a child, the child is unlikely to trust any authority figures for some time.
Choose DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP for Your School Negligence Claim
Has your child suffered because of their school’s negligence? Make sure they get the justice they deserve. Contact our firm online or call us at 855-WINNING (946-6464) to set up a consultation.