Metro Schools Ignored Bullying After Videoed Sexual Assault: Lawsuit

NASHVILLE, TN — Metro Schools ignored bullying and did little to curtail the circulation of a video of an on-campus sexual assault at Hunters Lane High School, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.

The mother of a 15-year-old Hunters Lane freshman — both the student and her mother are identified only by initials in the complaint — says Metro Nashville Public Schools violated Title IX by failing to adequately address the bullying and threats suffered by her daughter in the wake of "unwelcome sexual conduct" by a male classmate in April. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

The suit claims the male student pulled the girl — identified as S.C. — into an unlocked classroom and engaged in the "unwelcome sexual conduct" while another male recorded the incident on his cellphone. The video, according to the suit, was then circulated throughout the student body and on the internet.

"Furthermore, the activity of videotaping sexual acts, unbeknownst to the female student involved, had previously occurred at Hunters Lane High School. In fact, this practice was so widespread within the Defendant’s school system that the students nicknamed the activity 'exposing' the individual involved," the lawsuit says.

The suit says Hunters Lane administration became aware of the video, ultimately suspending not just the two males, but also S.C., for three days.

"Even though the school administration was aware that students were circulating the videotape, such students were not effectively disciplined to prevent this type of activity from occurring and continuing. [The mother] was told that the videotape was simply erased from students’ phones. However, the administration did not expel or substantially punish any of the individuals involved in 'exposing' S.C or in circulating the video at the school and to the public at large," according to the complaint.

The suit says that while there was a criminal investigation by Metro Nashville Police, there was no Title IX investigation, as required by law, and neither S.C. nor her mother were made aware of Title IX protections.

The complaint says that widespread and persistent bullying and harassment led S.C.'s mother to pull her out of school and that the teenager will be homeschooled this year.

Metro Schools did not comment on the suit.

The suit seeks $3 million in damages.

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