Legal Question in Civil Litigation in New Jersey

Can I sue the principal of my son's school?

It seems to me that you�re managing your anger very well. Let�s keep it that way.

In the legal sense, you have a cause of action against the boy that battered your son. You might bring that suit in his name and as his guardian. You might collect damages in the amount necessary to compensate you for medical costs. You might also collect punitive damages that a jury might think appropriate to keep the perpetrator from repeating that behavior.

The choice that you need to make is whether that action is appropriate under the circumstances. If I read between the lines of your message, it seems to me that the �offense� is more one of the insult to you of having your judgment challenged by the school principal. In your position, I would feel the same way. I would be furious that the principal contacted DYFS on an issue that didn�t deserve that response. I would be furious that the response of the management of the school did not involve some measures of correction of the behavior of the boy who injured your son. The insult, however, is not actionable at law and, because of the way you ask, I think you can rise above it.

I suggest to you that, as a responsible parent, you have probably taken all of the actions required of you or appropriate to the situation. Certainly, the rest of us would view things that way. You have obtained medical attention for your son. You have obtained an apology from the other child which seems to indicate that he appreciates the harm that he caused and might have caused. You have reported the incident to the school authorities.

It is possible that the school authorities acted inappropriately toward you. In a cool moment, write a letter to the chairman of the Board of Education. Document the situation and your concern and let the Board do its job.

Re: Can I sue the principal of my son's school?

Yes. The principal's behavior was clearly inappropriate and designed as an attempt to discredit you. Luckily DYFS saw through this attempt. You may have a cause of action against the principal as a result.