YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Ursuline High School is now facing its fourth federal lawsuit in just three months, heightening concerns over the institution’s handling of student safety following a violent incident involving a former student. The latest lawsuit, filed by the mother of a former freshman, alleges that school staff failed to prevent an attack on her daughter despite prior warnings.
This lawsuit differs from the previous three, which primarily centered around issues involving the school’s football team, where serious allegations of hazing and other misconduct led to significant administrative changes, including the cancellation of the upcoming season. The latest complaint, however, is focused on a specific incident from April 2024, raising questions about the school’s overall commitment to student safety and welfare.
Margaret “Maggie” Damore, the school’s assistant principal, is once again named in this lawsuit, marking her involvement in all four cases against the school. The plaintiffs’ attorney, Subodh Chandra, claims that Damore’s actions reflect a troubling pattern of prioritizing the institution’s reputation over the safety of students. The lawsuit asserts that she failed to adequately investigate allegations of misconduct and may have attempted to conceal them.
According to court documents, the alleged attack occurred when the victim received threats via text from another student, identified in the lawsuit as “Friend-1.” The mother of the alleged victim took proactive steps by emailing the school’s guidance counselor, expressing concerns about her daughter’s safety. Despite the warning, the lawsuit claims that school officials, including Damore, did not take adequate precautions to prevent the confrontation.
The situation escalated when, on the day of the planned fight, the alleged attacker reportedly confronted the victim during lunch, resulting in a physical altercation that left the victim injured and not promptly assisted by school personnel. Witnesses claim that despite being alerted about the fight, no teachers or administrators intervened until it was too late.
Following the altercation, the victim was left in distress without immediate medical attention, raising further concerns about how the school handled the situation. Reports indicate that students filmed the aftermath while Damore allegedly failed to notify the victim’s mother until after others had already communicated the attack.
The victim later diagnosed with a concussion, had to take an extended leave from school due to the incident’s psychological and physical impacts. The mother has since reported the attack to local authorities and expressed dissatisfaction with the school’s response, including claims that Damore did not fulfill her obligations as a mandated reporter.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $150,000 and aims to hold Damore and other officials accountable for their alleged failures. Chandra emphasizes that the series of lawsuits illuminates systemic issues within the school, pointing to a pervasive culture that seems to prioritize protecting its image, particularly concerning its athletic programs, over the safety of its students.
In response to the latest allegations, Ursuline High School has stated that it is reviewing the claims and maintains that proper actions were taken during the incident in question. The school has expressed confidence in its faculty’s handling of safety protocols and intends to mount a vigorous defense against these accusations, asserting that they believe they are without merit.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the attention surrounding Ursuline High School continues to grow, prompting further scrutiny into how educational institutions manage the wellbeing of their students and respond to serious allegations of misconduct.