Hagen v. Independent School District No.1-004 (2007)
From Judgepedia
2007
Justice Colbert concurred in the majority opinion of Justice Rudolph Hargrave. That opinion affirmed the trial judge's finding that the school district did not adequately demonstrate that a teacher who slapped and otherwise physically attacked a special-needs child deserved to have his employment terminated.
ISSUE:
In this case, the court framed the issue as whether the trial court's decision that the school district failed to prove that the teacher's actions constituted "physical or mental abuse of a child," where the teacher pushed and slapped a special-needs child, was supported by competent evidence.
HOLDING:
The court found that the trial court's decision that a teacher who slapped and pushed a special-needs child did not abuse that child was based upon competent, credible evidence.
REASONING:
In arriving at that decision, the court reasoned as follows:
- (1) "[The teacher] testified that he did not intend to injure K.H. when he slapped hi, but that his intention was to try to get K.H.'s attention and find out what was wrong."
POTENTIAL FLAWS IN THE COURT'S REASONING:
- (1) In his ardent and lengthy dissent, Justice Steven W. Taylor made the following observation: "[t]his case is about an assault and battery upon a sixth-grade special education student by that student's teacher. The bottom line is that a career special education teacher, who had full knowledge of his student's mental and emotional challenges, confronted the student and eventually slapped the student on the face twice. * * * the district court should have sustained the school district board's dismissal."
