Virginia Teacher Shot by 6-Year-Old Awarded $10 Million in Negligence Lawsuit Against School Administrator
Teacher Abby Zwerner was awarded $10 million by a Virginia jury after being shot by a 6-year-old student, citing former assistant principal Ebony Parker's negligence.
CBS NewsVirginia teacher shot by first grader wins civil trial against school administrator, awarded $10 million
The BlazeTeacher shot by 6-year-old student awarded millions of dollars in civil lawsuit
The GuardianVirginia school teacher shot by six-year-old student awarded $10m in damages
NPRA former teacher shot by her 6-year-old student wins a $10 million jury verdict
Overview
First-grade teacher Abby Zwerner was shot in January 2023 by a 6-year-old student at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia, sustaining severe injuries to her hand and chest.
A Virginia jury awarded Abby Zwerner $10 million in her lawsuit against former assistant principal Ebony Parker, citing Parker's negligence for ignoring warnings about the student's gun.
Zwerner's lawsuit claimed Parker failed to protect students and staff, as she was informed by two students and teachers about the boy having a gun in his backpack.
Ebony Parker is facing a criminal trial for eight counts of felony child neglect, accused of showing reckless disregard for students' lives by ignoring multiple warnings.
Zwerner underwent six surgeries and still lacks full use of her left hand. She has left the school district, transitioning from teaching to become a licensed cosmetologist.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources are neutral in their coverage of the $10 million jury verdict. They focus on reporting the factual outcome of the lawsuit, detailing the plaintiff's injuries and the legal arguments from both sides. The reporting avoids loaded language and presents information in a balanced, chronological manner, including related criminal proceedings.