PITTSBURGH — A mother is claiming negligence against the Plum Borough School District after her minor child was allegedly assaulted on a school bus by another student.
R.C., a minor, by her parent and natural guardian, Jamie Cravener and Jamie Cravener, in her own right filed a complaint June 22 in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against Plum Borough School District and J.T., a minor alleging negligence, battery, assault and other claims.
According to the plaintiffs' complaint, R.C., was a student in 8th grade at Oblock Junior High School on Presque Isle Drive in Pittsburgh during the 2021-2022 school year. They allege that R.C., and defendant J.T., were riding a Plum Borough School District bus on March 3, 2022, when J.T., physically blocked R.C., from accessing her assigned seat.
They further allege that J.T., proceeded to grab R.C.'s backpack and violently strike R.C., in the head and caused her to suffer a closed head injury as well as damage to her nerves, joints, soft tissues and intervertebral discs and other injuries. The plaintiffs claim the Plum Borough School District's negligence for failing to have adequate supervision for R.C., failing to remove J.T., from the school bus when they should have known of the risk to R.C., and for failing to enforce its assigned-seat policy. They also claim the Plum Borough School District failed to properly train its personnel.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief of more than $50,000, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Laura Balzarini of Balzarini & Watson in Pittsburgh.
Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County case number GD-22-9833