An autistic high school student in Florida accused of violently attacking a teacher’s assistant over a Nintendo game has filed a stunning lawsuit against his school district, alleging the school district failed to intervene to address his misdeeds. He filed a lawsuit for the same. A ticking time bomb. ”
Brendan Deppa, 18, is suing Flagler County Public Schools, alleging the district failed to meet his needs prior to the shocking Feb. 21 incident that was caught on video and went viral. filed a lawsuit.
Depa was 17 years old when he allegedly attacked Joanne Neidich, a teacher’s aide, at Matanzas High School in Palm Coast. Surveillance video released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office shows the 6-foot-6, 270-pound student run up to the teacher’s aide, push him to the ground, and then continue punching and kicking him. It is said that there is.
Florida teacher’s aide attacked in viral video, speaks out before sentencing of student
A teacher runs to help Joan Neiditch as she lies on the floor after being beaten by Brendan Depa. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
The teacher’s assistant falls to the ground for several minutes before getting up with the help of others.
Neidich said. FOX 35 Orlando She suffered five broken ribs, a severe concussion, hearing loss in one ear and other problems as a result of the beating.
This incident began when Depa was denied permission to use the Nintendo Switch console.
The suit alleges that the school district repeatedly failed to address Depa’s disability through an appropriate action plan, which ultimately led to the assault.
“The school district must be held accountable for its failures that forever changed the trajectory of this young man’s life,” the complaint reads in part.
The newspaper said he has a history of trauma and mental health issues, and has several disabilities that affect him in school.
”[Depa] Although he is smart, he has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and has communication difficulties that were not properly addressed. His explosive nature was also ignored, and his need for social and practical language intervention was not adequately addressed,” the lawsuit states.
The suit alleges that the school ignored Depa’s need for social and “practical language intervention” and should have taught her directly about problem-solving and self-expression.
For example, he spat on one student and verbally threatened another with death. He also said he should have shot the student. The suit alleges that the school did not properly handle these incidents.
Florida students file petition over viral video attack on teacher
Joan Neidich appears in court on March 9, 2023, as Brendan Depa is escorted to jail. At the court hearing, Ms. Neidich asked for a permanent injunction against the department store. (David Tucker/News Journal/USA Today Network)
“If these issues were addressed in real time, [Depa] He would not have caused any harm to the paraprofessional and would not have been arrested or exposed to long periods of incarceration,” the complaint states.
The complaint alleges that the teacher’s aide and Depa had an exchange in which the student was reprimanded in front of his peers and ultimately refused to use a Nintendo device, even though other students were allowed to do so. He claims that he was punished by being rejected.
The school, staff and district knew that Nintendo and its use on school campuses would be a “triggers for escalating behavior,” and that Depa spat on Neiditch, according to the filing.
When Ms. Nidik ran out of the classroom after the alleged assault, Mr. Depa followed her and began a violent attack.
The teenager filed for a due process hearing under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. He is seeking a determination that Flagler County Public Schools’ actions around February 2023 caused the violent incident.
A spokesperson for Flagler Schools told Fox 35 Orlando that the district does not comment on the complaint.
Late last year, Depa, who is being prosecuted as an adult, challenged the aggravated first-degree felony charge against an elected official or education official, which could carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. There wasn’t. His sentencing is scheduled for May 1, Fox 35 reports.
Brendan Depa and his lawyer appeared in court last year. Depa filed a stunning lawsuit against the school district, accusing the school district of failing to intervene to address his misdeeds because he was a “ticking time bomb.” (David Tucker\News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Neidich denied taking the Nintendo Switch away from the department store and said he was actually angry because another staff member wouldn’t allow him to play the Nintendo Switch.
Neidich said he has faced not only physical injuries but also financial and emotional hurdles since the attack.
“Unfortunately, a lot of the injuries that you can’t see are going to be with you for the rest of your life,” Neidich previously said. FOX 35 Orlandomentioned slowness of speech, problems with patience, and “difficulties with what she considers to be everyday cognitive functions.”
“Everyone who knows me or has known me, [before the attack] I realize that I am a completely different person now. My entire life was turned upside down. ”
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Mr. Neidich was granted a permanent injunction in March 2023, seeking protection against repeated violence against the department store.
Depa had previously been charged with misdemeanor battery three times in March 2019, April 2019 and June 2019, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. All misdemeanor charges are from the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Hillsborough County.
Regarding these charges, court records show Depa completed a program within the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Fox News’ Pilar Aris and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
