Seattle Public Schools faces $124M lawsuit over assault case

Seattle Public Schools is facing a $124 million civil lawsuit after a former Meany Middle School student was punched by his math teacher in 2018, according to The Seattle Times.

Zakaria Sheikhibrahim, then 13, said the assault by teacher James Johnson left him with a traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and lasting mental health issues. He is now 21 and unable to hold steady work, according to his attorneys.

The lawsuit, currently underway in King County Superior Court, alleges the district ignored years of warnings about Johnson’s behavior, including aggression, profanity, and inappropriate conduct toward students. One former principal called Johnson a “danger” in a 2011 memo.

On the day of the incident, Johnson asked Sheikhibrahim to remove his backpack. The situation escalated, and Johnson punched the student, dragged him across a table, and threw him out of class. Johnson later admitted to the assault in a student-recorded audio clip.

The district acknowledges it failed to protect Sheikhibrahim and said Johnson acted inappropriately, but it disputes the size of the damages, suggesting a figure closer to $100,000.

Johnson remained employed until 2021. The district considered firing him, but instead transferred him, citing legal risks and staffing challenges.

The trial is expected to continue through late October.

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