Abby Zwerner, a former teacher at Richneck Elementary School, was shot by a 6-year-old student in 2023. She won a civil lawsuit related to the incident, with a jury awarding her $10 million in damages.
The jury found Ebony Parker, the school's former assistant principal, grossly negligent in failing to prevent the shooting.
The $10 million award is significantly less than the $40 million Zwerner originally sought. The decision came the day after both parties presented their closing arguments.
"We can't let these kinds of school shootings, whether it's an individual case like this or the mass shootings that have destroyed America school safety, teachers safety, children safety is the most important thing," said Jeffrey Breit.
"This verdict reminds people that you will be held accountable if you don't make that your first concern."
Zwerner did not speak with the media following the verdict, but her attorney, Diane Toscano, stated that her client is pleased with the outcome and relieved to have closure after sharing her story.
Zwerner’s legal representatives expressed satisfaction with the verdict, emphasizing its importance in reinforcing accountability regarding school safety.
Summary: Abby Zwerner was awarded $10 million after a jury found a school administrator grossly negligent in a 2023 shooting incident, highlighting the critical importance of school safety and accountability.