Student stabbed by classmate at Zion-Benton High School sues school district, attacker over injuries

The family of a student who was stabbed and critically injured by her classmate at Zion-Benton Township High School has filed a lawsuit against the district.

On Jan. 9, Zion police said two 17-year-old girls got into a fight and one stabbed the other, causing critical injuries. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment while the attacker fled the school, and was taken into custody a short time later.

The lawsuit names the school district, the girl's attacker and the attacker's mother. It alleges the school failed to enforce their own safety rules, including locking doors during instructional periods, on the day of the attack.

It also alleges the district maintained an alternative education program for students whose behavior put others at risk but failed to use it in the case of the attacker, who the suit claims had a history of disciplinary issues, and that allowed the situation to escalate into the violent attack in January.

The lawsuit said the victim is now permanently disabled as a result of the attack, and is asking for a judgement against the school, attacker (who is a minor) and the attacker's parent, as well as restitution for medical expenses.

The attacker has been charged in juvenile court; the identities of the victim and attacker have not been made public, as they are both minors.

The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court for Lake County in Illinois.