Gilroy Unified School District is facing a lawsuit that claims it has failed in its responsibility to keep students safe from violence on the Christopher High School campus.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a 16-year-old student identified as “Jane Doe,” and centers around a violent assault on CHS grounds by another student in March 2024. The assault left the plaintiff with physical and mental injuries, says the complaint which was filed May 2 in Santa Clara County Superior Court.
The complaint, filed by attorney Mark Boskovich, suggests that fighting and bullying are increasingly common on GUSD campuses and lists numerous fights and assaults at Gilroy schools that have resulted in injuries to victims in recent years. It claims the district has been aware of ongoing violence on the campuses and has failed to react in a way that could reduce such incidents or improve student safety.
“Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges, the district knew there was a significant risk of students assaulting one another at Christopher High School before the subject assault,” the complaint says.
The lawsuit adds, “Defendant is under a duty to supervise and protect pupils on its premises. It is charged with the duty to prescribe and enforce rules consistent with the law, the duty to fix and prescribe duties of all persons in public school service, and the duty to ‘give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils.’
“Article 1, Section 28(f)(1) of the California Constitution provides students in…public elementary, junior high, and high schools the inalienable right to attend campuses which are safe, secure and peaceful.”
The plaintiff is suing the district for unspecified damages in excess of $35,000.
District spokesperson Melanie Corona said GUSD does not comment on ongoing litigation, and will respond to the lawsuit in accordance with state law.
“The Gilroy Unified School District takes all allegations of harassment, bullying or abuse of any kind very seriously and is committed to the safety of all students and staff as its first priority,” Corona said in a statement. “Per California Education Code, all schools in (GUSD) have a board-approved comprehensive school safety plan that is reviewed, updated and approved annually.”
Corona added the GUSD board of education last reviewed and approved the district’s safety plans in February.
In the March 2024 incident, Jane Doe was followed on school grounds during a break by a classmate identified as “Heather Doe,” says the lawsuit. The attacker allegedly approached the plaintiff from behind, pulled her hoodie over her head, “knocked her to the ground and violently assaulted her.”
The assault continued for “three or four minutes” while the plaintiff was on the ground, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit describes another incident in which a friend of the plaintiff’s was “viciously attacked” by six female students at CHS in February 2024.
“(The) district knew there was a significant risk of students assaulting one another at Christopher High School before the subject assault,” says the lawsuit. “This violent behavior was not uncommon at Christopher High School. In fact, after (the) assault of plaintiff, another student was unexpectedly stabbed in the locker room during passing period while other students watched and filmed the violent assault.”
Boskovich did not return a phone call requesting additional comment on the lawsuit.
