A former Malibu High School student who claims her teacher slapped her has filed a lawsuit against the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
Dionne Evans, 15, alleges that 9th-grade English teacher Jennifer Gonzalez slapped her multiple times in front of classmates on May 22 while referencing a scene from the movie “Bridesmaids.”
The suit, which was filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, lists battery, assault, negligence, violation of civil rights and public school discrimination among several complaints.
Court filings also claim Gonzalez has a history of “physically striking” students. In 1996, Gonzalez allegedly threw a soda bottle at a 16-year-old male student and struck his genitals, according to court documents.
SMMUSD rejected a $1-million damages claim by Evans in June. The rejection allowed Evans six months to pursue a lawsuit in court.
The suit also names Gonzalez, former Malibu High Principal Mark Kelly and Malibu High School as defendants in the case.