Abby Zwerner, Shot By Her Student, Wins Civil Case Against Principal

[SweetSue92]

She won $10 million dollars in the civil suit against her principal.

In normal circumstances I would be opposed to a suit like this. Many times teachers/admin are making quick decisions in fluid and uncertain situations. But in this case, the principal was told MANY times, by many different people, that the child had a gun. She downplayed and ignored the information, and Zwerner was shot.

A jury awarded $10 million to former first grade Virginia teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot and seriously wounded by a 6-year-old student in 2023, in a civil case that accused the school's former assistant principal of ignoring multiple warnings the day of the shooting.

Zwerner, 25, was shot in the hand and chest by a single bullet while at a reading table in her classroom at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, in January 2023. Zwerner spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and underwent six surgeries. The bullet to her chest narrowly missed her heart and remains lodged there. She no longer has full use of her left hand and has left teaching.

Zwerner's lawsuit had sought $40 million in compensatory damages. It accused former assistant principal Ebony Parker of gross negligence. In the lawsuit, Zwerner said she went to Parker's office the morning of the shooting and said the boy "was in a violent mood" and had threatened to beat up another student. The lawsuit said Parker "had no response" to Zwerner's concerns.

Virginia teacher shot by first grader wins civil trial against school administrator, awarded $10 million

 

[elektra]

Pure stupidity, the teacher and school staff all need to be fired.

They knew a six year old had a gun, they reported the six year old had a gun. They than reported it again is the story.

The obvious is, why did the teacher not take the gun away? A teacher cant take a gun away from a six year old? She can only repirt it a couple times?

Knowing there is a gun she did what? Ut dont matter what the principle says, we need teachers that can handle, six year olds.

 

[SweetSue92]

Pure stupidity, the teacher and school staff all need to be fired.

They knew a six year old had a gun, they reported the six year old had a gun. They than reported it again is the story.

The obvious is, why did the teacher not take the gun away? A teacher cant take a gun away from a six year old? She can only repirt it a couple times?

Knowing there is a gun she did what? Ut dont matter what the principle says, we need teachers that can handle, six year olds.

Well. Apparently the teacher WON. And yes, she reported it, but the admin was ignorant. Hence the 10 MILLION dollar settlement by the jury!

 

[whitehall]

Sounds like a fair award. I wonder if the taxpayers will be responsible for the 10 mil rather than the school official.

 

[1srelluc]

Gee, I wonder why the white teacher was ignored in a mostly black school.

Principle:

Teacher:

"Dindu Muffins" cost the system 10M.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Pure stupidity, the teacher and school staff all need to be fired.

They knew a six year old had a gun, they reported the six year old had a gun. They than reported it again is the story.

The obvious is, why did the teacher not take the gun away? A teacher cant take a gun away from a six year old? She can only repirt it a couple times?

Knowing there is a gun she did what? Ut dont matter what the principle says, we need teachers that can handle, six year olds.

I'm sure if the principal had simply told her "we're not going to take that boy's gun away, that would be wascist!" the teacher would takent matters into her own hands. She believed that the principal would do the right thing.

Sounds like a fair award. I wonder if the taxpayers will be responsible for the 10 mil rather than the school official.

For her sake, I hope so. If that AP can come up with $10M, she's skimming the till pretty damn hard.

 

[WorldWatcher]

Sounds like a fair award. I wonder if the taxpayers will be responsible for the 10 mil rather than the school official.

Newport News participates in a state administered liability program to dispose of such awards.

The risk pool insurance spreads the cost to all participating school systems in. Virginia.

WW

 

[elektra]

Sounds like a fair award. I wonder if the taxpayers will be responsible for the 10 mil rather than the school official.

Why is it fair?

 

[elektra]

Well. Apparently the teacher WON. And yes, she reported it, but the admin was ignorant. Hence the 10 MILLION dollar settlement by the jury!

No shit, apparently she and that entire school system is full of incompetent fools.

A loaded gun and the teacher fires it in a scuffle with the child and she gets rewarded?

What is your point, you wanted me to tell you personally they both should be fired for being pretty damn stupid

 

[JOSweetHeart]

I never realized how serious the shooting was. I thought that the lady was only shot in one of her hands. According to the write up, she still has a bullet in her chest. My only question is what is happening with that boy these days. According to this write up here his mom is currently serving the two-year sentence that she got for this nightmare.

God bless you and the victim always!!!

Holly

P.S. In my opinion, a two-year sentence when the victim could've been killed is a slap on the wrist.

 

[HikerGuy83]

I never realized how serious the shooting was. I thought that the lady was only shot in one of her hands. According to the write up, she still has a bullet in her chest. My only question is what is happening with that boy these days. According to this write up here his mom is currently serving the two-year sentence that she got for this nightmare.

God bless you and the victim always!!!

Holly

P.S. In my opinion, a two-year sentence when the victim could've been killed is a slap on the wrist.

What about a six-year-old who has already pulled the trigger on someone.

That is what scares me.

How did he even know how to use it? How did he get it there. Who owned it and let it out of their control?

 

[HikerGuy83]

It will get lowered.

She'll get two or three.

Then laugh all the way to the bank.

That principle should be fired and prosecuted.

 

[SweetSue92]

Pure stupidity, the teacher and school staff all need to be fired.

They knew a six year old had a gun, they reported the six year old had a gun. They than reported it again is the story.

The obvious is, why did the teacher not take the gun away? A teacher cant take a gun away from a six year old? She can only repirt it a couple times?

Knowing there is a gun she did what? Ut dont matter what the principle says, we need teachers that can handle, six year olds.

Our blame the teacher for everything culture is destroying the profession. So thanks for that

 

[elektra]

Our blame the teacher for everything culture is destroying the profession. So thanks for that

Normally I would not but the child was 6 years.

 

[SweetSue92]

Normally I would not but the child was 6 years.

Teacher was apparently sitting at a small group table with the kids. She was supposed to launch herself over the table before the kid shot her? Are you for real

 

[elektra]

Teacher was apparently sitting at a small group table with the kids. She was supposed to launch herself over the table before the kid shot her? Are you for real

How was she able to report to the front office the kid had a gun long before it was fired or taken out of the back pack.

 

[Seymour Flops]

No shit, apparently she and that entire school system is full of incompetent fools.

A loaded gun and the teacher fires it in a scuffle with the child and she gets rewarded?

No evidence at all that it happened that way.

 

[Unkotare]

...

The obvious is, why did the teacher not take the gun away? ...

Don't ask this group. There is a recently quit teacher here who has expressed fear of 6 year olds for a long time.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Don't ask this group. There is a recently quit teacher here who has expressed fear of 6 year olds for a long time.

Quick!

Tell us step by step how you would have disarmed this gun-wielding child!

 

[Unkotare]

Quick!

Tell us step by step how you would have disarmed this gun-wielding child!

By taking away the gun.