Story Archive

Bad Chemistry

A science classroom at Crossler Middle School in Salem, Ore., was vandalized by someone pouring chemicals, including hydrochloric acid, around the room. It cost $19,293 for the cleanup. The Salem-Keizer School District sued the culprit — an unnamed 12-year-old student — as well as his parents, under a state law that says parents “shall be liable” for property damaged by their children. That still won’t pay for the damages, however: the law has a $7,500 liability limit, leaving $11,793 for taxpayers, plus the costs of the lawsuit. The boy had at least a dozen “disciplinary marks” at school, and the suit claims his parents failed to “exercise reasonable control” over him. (RC/Portland Oregonian) ...The real heads up from this? The liability limit needs to be increased.
Original Publication Date: 22 October 2017
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 24.

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