Fairfield school district defendants in bullying case

FAIRFIELD — A Fairfield student and her parents have filed a lawsuit in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas against the Fairfield school district because they claim the district failed to protect her from other student.

Sara Clark, a Fairfield Senior High School student, was granted a temporary protection order after a Oct. 2009 incident where Clark says a girl bullied her at a party in the 6720 block of Alana Court for going out with her boyfriend. Clark received nine stitches for a laceration on her nose between her eyes, according to court records.

The assailant, a minor, also scratched the exterior of Clark’s car. Juvenile court proceedings ordered the assailant to complete community service hours, be placed on probation and have no contact with Clark.

The new lawsuit names the school district, the high school’s principal, Billy Smith, the sophomore assistant principal, David Helms, the assailant and her parents, Crystal and Everett Hibbard as codefendants.

The lawsuit claims Smith and Helms knew the assailant was violating the temporary protection order and refused to take action. The assaulting girl violated the order by attending Clark’s classes and having contact with her in the parking lot. Clark also received threats over the Internet, according to court documents.

Clark is requesting compensatory and punitive damages and a trial by jury.

Fairfield City Schools spokesman Randy Oppenheimer said while he couldn’t comment on individual students or litigation, “we do have an anti-bullying policy.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5237 or kcano@coxohio.com.

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