$10 Million Claim Filed Against LAUSD After Racist Attacks At Verdugo Hills High
The mother of a 14-year-old Black student has filed a $10 million claim against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) following multiple racially motivated attacks at Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga. The claim, filed on December 19, 2024, alleges that the district failed to protect the Black student from escalating violence and harassment, and seeks compensation for the emotional and physical toll these incidents have caused.
According to the student’s attorney, Brad Gage, the teenager was repeatedly targeted with racial slurs and physical assaults both on school grounds and off-campus, including in a nearby park and at his home, which was vandalized with racist graffiti. Gage shared videos during a press conference on December 20, which show two separate physical altercations involving the student.
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The incidents began shortly after the student enrolled at Verdugo Hills High School, where Black students make up only 1.5% of the student body, according to 2023-2024 enrollment data from the California Department of Education. In one of the videos, the student is seen being attacked in a school bathroom by multiple individuals.
“This young man was targeted simply because of the color of his skin,” Gage said. “We want to see those responsible held accountable for their actions, and we believe the district attorney should prosecute these individuals for committing hate crimes against our client.”
The student’s defense attorney, Caree Harper, stated that the teen is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon after being arrested on December 9, 2024, following a stabbing incident. Gage and Harper maintain that the student was acting in self-defense during the confrontation and should not be charged for protecting himself.
The claim alleges that LAUSD officials were well aware of the ongoing harassment and failed to take appropriate action. During a meeting with the student’s mother, administrators reportedly failed to take meaningful steps to address the violence or prevent further attacks.
The claim points to violations of California’s Education Code, accusing the district of negligence in failing to provide adequate supervision, resulting in a hostile and unsafe environment for the student. The lawsuit also cites intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, and violations of the student’s civil rights, including protection from racial discrimination.
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“The school district’s failure to act has allowed this cycle of violence and racial harassment to continue,” said Gage. “If proper measures had been taken back in August, the stabbing incident in December could have been prevented.”
LAUSD has declined to comment on the matter, citing ongoing litigation.
