Teacher Files Lawsuit Following Traumatic Brain Injury

The Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart is one of the elite boys’ schools in the state of New Jersey. Recently, they were the target of a lawsuit that was filed by a teacher concerning a traumatic brain injury. The teacher, from the Trenton area, suffers from a traumatic brain injury that he sustained back in 2008. As a result, he suffers from sudden losses of consciousness, light sensitivity (also called photophobia), and extreme fatigue. Several years later, the teacher was hired as a math and science teacher at the school, which is about a dozen miles from his home. He also informed his supervisor of his injury. The disability prevents the teacher from performing some of his activities; however, he was still able to work and teach at an exemplary level. He was commended by his students and the parents got along with this teacher well.

Despite his outstanding performance as a teacher, this individual alleges that he was discriminated against by the school. The lawsuit states that he was even questioned regarding whether or not his disability was real or whether he was making it up. He also states that he was being held to a different standard from his colleagues. There were times when he lost consciousness and could not come to work, further opening the door for additional discrimination, again being questioned as to whether or not his disability was real.

Three years after being hired, the school informed the teacher that he would not be renewing his contract, despite his outstanding work performance. The teacher is seeking compensatory punitive damages as well as back pay. Without a doubt, people need to know that traumatic brain injuries are both real and serious injuries. Some of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries include concussions, cerebral contusions, skull fractures, and even brain bleeds. Like other medical injuries, traumatic brain injuries run the spectrum from relatively minor to severe and life-altering. While some people might make a full recovery following a concussion, it is also possible that people could be left with complications that are going to impact them for the rest of their lives.

That is what happened to this teacher, who decided to try to get a job helping others despite his disability. It is a shame that he was discriminated against (allegedly) by his employer. It also shows that anyone who suffers a traumatic brain injury in an accident must make sure that their rights are protected. Some people might seek to discriminate against those who have suffered a serious injury, even if it occurred in an accident. It will be interesting to see how this lawsuit plays out.