Appeals Court Revives Sexual Abuse Suits Against Nashville Schools - Articles

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Appeals Court Revives Sexual Abuse Suits Against Nashville Schools

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on May 20, 2022

A three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals yesterday struck down a lower court ruling that dismissed two cases against Metro Nashville Public Schools. Tennessee Lookout reports that the suits were brought by two students who alleged they were sexually assaulted at Metro Nashville public schools. Their parents argued that the school system violated Title IX protections through “deliberate indifference” to thousands of prior complaints of sexual harassments and assaults in its schools, and the plight of the two girls after videos of their attacks were posted online and circulated. U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger initially ruled in favor of the school district, saying there was not enough evidence to show it knew there was a problem. The appeals court disagreed yesterday, saying there was enough evidence of “deliberate indifference” to warrant a trial.