Seattle Public Schools admits negligence in student assault case, delaying civil jury trial

Shortly before a student assault court case involving Seattle Public Schools was scheduled to start Oct. 8, the district admitted negligence “for failing to remove a teacher,” KING 5 reported.

“The district’s admission came shortly before opening statements were set to begin, throwing the day’s proceedings into disarray,” writes Christian Balderas. “With the sudden shift, the court had to pause to determine what evidence would now be admissible.” 

The case involves an incident at Meany Middle School in January 2018 when a teacher “allegedly confronted 13-year-old Zakaria Sheikhibrahim over a backpack policy violation, pressed his forehead against the student’s, used racial slurs, and then punched him twice in the face,” according to Balderas. 

“Sheikhibrahim, now 21, claims he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and a long-term traumatic brain injury. The lawsuit alleges the district had been warned about the teacher’s behavior years before the attack.” 

‘It feels like a strategy’ 

Cheryl Kilodavis, who sued the district in 2016 in a separate incident after her then 10-year-old child was assaulted at school, expressed her disappointment over the delay. 

“It’s frustrating that opening arguments didn’t happen today,” she told journalists. “It feels like a strategy.” 

However, Judge Sean P. O’Donnell viewed the admission as changing the entire nature of the trial. 

“They just made this huge concession: ‘We’re liable,’” he said to the plaintiff’s attorney Lara Hruska, who had represented Kilodavis and helped her reach a settlement. 

“Hruska had prepared a detailed opening statement outlining what she described as a decade-long pattern of aggressive and predatory behavior by the teacher,” Balderas writes. “But now, any evidence not directly related to the student in this case, such as inappropriate touching or interactions with other staff, is off the table.” 

The hearing began at 9 a.m. but was still in session by 5 p.m. as the judge and attorneys deliberated on how much liability this admission brought for the district, the news outlet reported. 

“We are not admitting or agreeing that we are responsible for this intentional act, which was outside the scope of his employment,” the district’s attorney said in court. 

The district has undergone a number of high-profile lawsuits in recent years, including a sexual assault case resulting in a $16 million settlement in November 2024. 

Hruska expressed frustration like Kilodavis, but also her readiness to change as the situation required. 

“I thought I was making a meal today,” she said. “All the ingredients are chopped up. Everything’s ready to go. I just have to rearrange the plate a little bit.”