Plaxen Adler Muncy Representing Baltimore County High School Student After Teacher Assault

A high school student is suing the Baltimore County School Board after being assaulted by her teacher. The disturbing incident occurred at Overlea High School in 2023. Now, Plaxen Adler Muncy is representing the student as she seeks accountability from the school district over the traumatic event. Students and their families should know that they have rights and that schools can and must be held accountable when teachers and others in the education system harm or abuse those they are responsible for educating.

Overview of the allegations

When the plaintiff was a student at Overlea High School, she says that she entered her Spanish classroom and her teacher grabbed her by her hoodie sweatshirt and began to punch her repeatedly. After the incident, the student reported the attack to the school office and the nurse photographed the resulting bruises. She was left traumatized after the attack and spent two weeks recovering at home before returning to school.

The school district’s response

Following reports of the assault, the school district responded by briefly suspending the teacher. However, it allowed her to return to the classroom just a short while later. As of June 2025, the teacher remains in her position at Overlea High School and is continuing to teach classes. According to the district, it “followed its processes” and investigated the incident. They declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit

David Muncy of Plaxen Adler Muncy is representing the plaintiff in a lawsuit on her behalf against the Baltimore County School Board. The allegations include negligence, a failure to provide a safe learning environment, and inadequate training and supervision of staff.

Mr. Muncy spoke to reporters about the ongoing litigation, stating that the suspension was not an adequate response from the school system.

“They’ve given us no answers as to why this happened or what they plan to do about it,” he said. “The teacher is back in the school, and overall, they have not taken the incident seriously.”

The school failed to provide explanations for its decision to return this teacher to her classroom following the assault. By failing to address the real harm caused by the attack, the school district is showing an inability to take the situation seriously. When students are harmed by institutions, like schools, that are supposed to protect them, there must be accountability. Without it, students are at risk of suffering severe and lasting harm.

The impact on the student

The plaintiff described feeling defenseless and traumatized following the assault. She also reported being unable to focus on school. The incident left her in a “really bad mental state.” She struggled, crying daily, blaming herself, and experiencing other psychological symptoms as a result of the assault. Eventually, she requested to transfer schools.

Sadly, many schools fail to implement policies and practices that would adequately protect their students from staff misconduct. The insufficient response is often dismissive of students who report abuse, and can leave dangerous people in place where they remain in positions overseeing vulnerable youth. In cases like this one, victims may be retraumatized if their abuser remains in a position of authority. The failure to remove that person can send a message that the school doesn’t value students’ safety, and is more concerned with protecting itself and its staff.

Legal rights for students and families

Students need to feel safe when they attend school. They deserve an environment where they can learn and grow without fearing for their physical and mental safety. When a teacher or other person in a position of authority (administrators, coaches, etc.) physically or sexually assaults a student, the school’s response must reflect the seriousness of the misconduct.

When an institution fails to act responsibly in the wake of an assault, the student and their loved ones need to consider taking legal action. They may have the ability to file a claim based on negligence, violations of civil rights, or a failure to supervise staff. The emotional distress a student can suffer because of an assault in their place of learning is immense and can have a major impact on their life and future. A lawsuit can help validate their emotions, hold the institution accountable, and recover compensation for the victim.

How Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. can help

At Plaxen Adler Muncy, our attorneys have been representing victims of institutional negligence for decades. We’ve earned a reputation for aggressive litigation and for compassionate client care. We are prepared to hold schools and other organizations accountable when they neglect or fail to properly protect their students. This case is one example of our efforts to fight on behalf of the victims of systemic failures. Cases like these don’t just help the victims; they force schools to take steps to better protect other students from future harm.

If your child suffered harm at the hands of a teacher or school employee, do not stay silent. Take steps to document the incident and resulting injuries, and contact an attorney right away. Plaxen Adler Muncy offers free consultations and case evaluations. Call or fill out our contact form today to speak to one of our dedicated attorneys.