Lawsuit alleging sexual assault, retaliation at Brighton Schools will head to mediation

BRIGHTON — A lawsuit filed against Brighton Area Schools, along with the district’s superintendent and high school principal, will go into a mediation session next month in an attempt to find a resolution.

More: Brighton Area Schools denies charges in federal lawsuit alleging sexual assault on school grounds

An order of referral was issued May 3 by Judge Paul Borman. The court appointed mediator must notify the court within two weeks of completion whether a settlement was reached or not. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the suit will return to court for adjudication.

The suit was filed in April 2022 by a former student who claims she was sexually assaulted by another student on school grounds, and that the district retaliated against her for reporting it. BAS challenges the allegation that an assault took place or that school officials pressured the student into recanting.

The former student claims the district violated the 14th Amendment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. She also says the district violated the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act, including creating and failing to prevent a sexually hostile education environment, retaliation and sex discrimination; and the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, including harassment, retaliation and discrimination.

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