LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Public Schools filed a motion to dismiss itself, Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio, and Assistant Superintendent Paige Hartstern from a lawsuit against a former principal.
A Louisville mother filed the lawsuit Jan. 7 in Jefferson Circuit Court, alleging former elementary school principal Duan Wright threatened to kill her then 7-year-old and another second grader in 2019 while pointing a gun at them.
Wright, who has a history of abuse complaints against him, was principal of Hartstern Elementary School at the time. Some investigative documents say the gun was a toy, while Wright has denied the incident.
The suit claims Wright had a 10-year history of violence that went unaddressed by JCPS, including punching, grabbing and dragging students and threatening both children and teachers with violence.
He was never punished and, in fact, after threatening the two second graders, Wright was promoted, according to the lawsuit, filed on behalf of Kamae Dixon.
A spokeswoman for JCPS declined to comment on the lawsuit at the time of its filing.
Wednesday, JCPS filed a motion to dismiss itself, claiming the district, the superintendent and assistant superintendent have governmental immunity and therefore cannot be sued in connection with the case against Wright.
Wright was forced to step down as principal in 2022 after additional incidents. He was relocated to a JCPS administrative office building where Dixon worked and would approach her and ask that she drop the investigation into what happened to her child, according to the suit.
Dixon eventually resigned. Wright was fired in March 2024, four months before he was to be deposed, or questioned under oath, in the other lawsuit.
The lawsuit is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
A different parent filed a lawsuit against Wright in 2022, claiming her son was also abused by him at Hartstern Elementary.
A 2022 WDRB investigation revealed JCPS had investigated abuse complaints alleged towards Wright six times between 2009-19.
WDRB's investigation revealed, in documents obtained by the Kentucky Open Records Act, each of JCPS' investigations concluded the allegations were "unsubstantiated" or "inconclusive."
Another document revealed a JCPS performance evaluation from 2020 for Wright "advised Wright to have another adult present during disciplinary issues."
Related Stories:
- Former JCPS principal pulled gun on 2 second graders, threatened to kill them, lawsuit claims
- JCPS principal retains leadership position after district investigation finds no evidence of abuse
- Parent of JCPS student suing principal with history of abuse complaints
- JCPS principal with history of abuse complaints removed from school
Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
