In This Article
In short: A family has sued the St. Helens School District over an on-campus attack on their teenage daughter, alleging the district failed to protect her despite knowing about earlier threats. The lawsuit seeks $3 million. The allegations have not been proven in court. Goldberg & Loren attorney George Goldberg represents the family.
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What the Lawsuit Alleges
A family has filed a lawsuit against the St. Helens School District after their teenage daughter was attacked on campus, according to reporting by KPTV.[1] The suit names the school district and school staff as defendants and seeks $3 million in damages.
The account below reflects what the lawsuit alleges. The claims have not been tested or proven in court, and the district is presumed not liable unless liability is established through the legal process.
What the Complaint Says Happened
The following is a summary of the family’s allegations as described in the complaint and the reporting. They are unproven claims, not established facts:
- The lawsuit alleges that on May 5, 2025, another student attacked the family’s daughter outside the high school’s front doors, punching her repeatedly.
- The complaint alleges the school knew the attacker had previously threatened and bullied the girl.
- It alleges a safety plan had been put in place with a school administrator to protect her.
- The lawsuit alleges the daughter reported ongoing threats to school staff roughly an hour before the attack.
- It further alleges that school staff witnessed the attack but did not intervene.
Based on these allegations, the family claims the district failed to provide a reasonably safe environment and is seeking $3 million in damages.
What the District Has Said
According to KPTV, the St. Helens School District declined to answer questions about the incident, including its staff’s intervention responsibilities. As of this writing, the allegations remain unproven.
The Family’s Legal Team
George Goldberg of Goldberg & Loren represents the family in the lawsuit.
When Can a School Be Held Responsible?
Schools have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep students safe while they are in the school’s care. When a school knows about a specific, credible threat to a student and does not act reasonably to prevent foreseeable harm, an injured student and their family may have grounds for a civil claim, separate from any school discipline or criminal case.
Every situation is different, and whether a claim exists depends on the specific facts. If your child was seriously hurt at school and you have questions about your options, our team offers free and confidential consultations. You can reach the Portland office of Goldberg & Loren at (971) 339-8080 or learn more on our Portland personal injury attorney page.
Sources:
[1] Kaplan, Ezra, and Michaela Cotter. “Family sues St. Helens High School for $3M after brutal on-campus attack caught on video.” KPTV FOX 12 Oregon, June 2025.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It summarizes allegations contained in a civil complaint and in published news reporting. The allegations described have not been proven in court, and every defendant is presumed not liable unless and until liability is established through the legal process. Nothing here should be read as a statement of opinion on the merits of the case.
