Nashville public schools to pay former student $70K in 2017 harassment case

A federal judge ordered Metro Nashville Public Schools to pay $70,000 to a former student, saying the district did not do enough to protect her from harassment.

The judge ruled the school system was liable for a Title IX violation after a yearslong court battle. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in schools.

The ruling comes after a lawsuit filed in 2017 by a mother who said her 15-year-old-daughter was “subjected to unwelcome sexual contact by a male student” that April in an unlocked classroom at Hunters Lane High School while another student recorded it on video.

The video was then shared between students and posted by at least one student across multiple social media platforms, the filing stated.

“This practice was so widespread within the defendant’s school system that the students nicknamed the activity ‘exposing’ the individual involved,” the lawsuit stated.

The student, only identified by initials in the filing, said female students in “exposing” videos were bullied, mocked and ridiculed by peers, and male students would be treated like “the most popular person in school.”

The lawsuit claimed Metro Nashville Public Schools violated Title IX when it suspended the girl and two other students, but doled out no discipline intended to stop the spread of the video. The mother said her daughter had to leave the school because the district’s inaction led to bullying and “vicious threats.”

Lawyer Stephen Crofford, who represented the girl in the lawsuit, said Friday his client felt the outcome of the case vindicated her and she was thankful for the $70,000 in damages awarded.

“She was thrilled that she was believed by the court,” Crofford said. “She was thrilled that someone would fight for her and believed her.”

However, Crofford said, the family was disappointed she was not able to receive the full $3 million she initially requested in damages.

The Metro Nashville Public Schools board adopted a Title IX and sexual harassment policy in 2020, according to spokesperson Sean Braisted, who referenced Superintendent Adrienne Battle’s efforts in a statement.

“These situations are sensitive in nature, and we have been actively working as a district to improve our systems of support since this occurred back in 2017,” the statement said. “The court acknowledged the steps taken by Dr. Battle to create the office of civil rights and Title IX coordinator who helps train and prepare staff in how best to handle situations and offers guidance and investigatory support as needed. We train our principals and staff to take allegations of sexual harassment seriously and to respond quickly.”