The law firm of Villaume & Schiek says it has been hired by St. Paul teacher John Ekblad, the Central High School teacher who was assaulted by a student earlier this month.
The firm says it was hired to “commence civil litigation against the St. Paul Public Schools for negligence in failing to provide him with a workplace free of assaultive behavior and violence in general.”
Ekblad was trying to break up a fight at the school when, according to witnesses, a student grabbed him, slammed him into a chair and onto the floor, then choked and punched him. Ekblad was unconscious for a while and hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury, a concussion and “neck trauma.”
The 16-year-old student was charged with a felony for the assault. The county attorney and superintendent have announced plans to set up a task force to find ways to solve the school violence problem.
Ekblad’s lawyers say the school district knew there has been violence in the schools and failed to protect teachers. Ekblad is expected to talk about the case on Tuesday.
Good !
He will have to be careful that he does not get blamed by administrators.