CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Four families of Ashley Ridge High School students are suing the Charleston County School District, Dorchester County School District Two and Event Staff Services over an alleged incident at a basketball game.
The lawsuit alleges the student and teammates from Ashley Ridge were playing in a basketball game at Stall High School on Jan. 24, 2023 when Stall High School students violently attacked them.
Another lawsuit was filed back in March by one family, but now four additional suits have been filed saying both the school districts were on notice of substantial risks of violence, fights and related security concerns at the game.
Given the concerns, the suit says Event Staff Services was hired by the Charleston County School District and agreed to provide security at Stall High School during the basketball game.
Court documents state the risks showed the need for adequate security measures to address such known and foreseeable risks.
The lawsuit alleges the Charleston County School District should have known on Jan. 24, 2023 that Event Staff Services were not present at the game and could not provide adequate security.
It also alleges that while in the Stall High School gymnasium, the students and their teammates were violently attacked by a large group of Stall students who were attending the game.
In the complete absence of security, the attack escalated and the students were injured.
One was violently beaten, leaving her with contusions all over her body, another was violently struck in the back and neck, a student violently struck in the head and the final student was violently beaten and kicked in the head and neck area.
The suit alleges the Charleston County School District knowingly failed to take necessary measures to adequately secure the premises for the game. It also claims Dorchester County School District Two failed to supervise and protect the students and players.
The Charleston County School District spokesperson Andy Pruitt confirmed the district has been served with the lawsuits. He said the district’s insurer is “handling the case and will provide an appropriate defense.”
Dorchester County School District Two has not yet responded to a request for comment.
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