Missouri Court Says Former School Superintendent not Liable for Stabbing

The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled that former Kansas City superintendent Bernard Taylor can’t be sued over a stabbing of a high school student.

The court ruling reaffirmed a federal statute that says teachers and administrators who are faithfully performing their duties cannot be held liable for students hurting other students.

The Kansas City Star reported that a student used a box cutter in 2005 to injure the victim. The victim’s attorney said the federal statute should be declared unconstitutional because it severely hampered a victim’s ability to seek damages from responsible authorities.

Taylor’s lawyer argued that the statute doesn’t protect administrators or teachers who knowingly create a dangerous situation. And victims can still attempt to seek damages from the person who committed the crime.