Schools look to shed liability for off-campus crimes
Public schools are trying to reduce their liability for off-campus wrongdoing after the state Supreme Court said the Bethel School District could be held responsible for the rape of a student off school grounds.
The court’s ruling has schools worried they will be exposed to new lawsuits and risk losing liability insurance. School leaders from around the state are backing Senate Bill 5505, which would shield them from liability for damages resulting from student criminal behavior outside of a district’s custody or supervision.
The proposal comes after the state Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in September that a jury should hear a case in which an 18-year-old high school student raped a 14-year-old junior high school student off campus.
The victim said they met at track practice, where the older student mentored younger students. She alleged the district knew he was a registered sex offender and failed to notify staff members or take other precautions to protect students from him.
Read more here: http://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/article132296399.html