A Malibu High School teacher allegedly slapped a ninth grade student four to six times in the face for failing to bring a homework assignment to class, an attorney for the student said Friday.
The student’s family filed a complaint with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department shortly after the assault, which took place May 22, said Donald Karpel, an attorney representing the student and her family.
An investigator with the sheriff’s Special Victims Unit confirmed there is an active investigation. They would not comment further on the case.
The teacher, who has since issued a written apology to the family, made the student stand up in front of the class and then asked her if she had seen the movie “Bridesmaids.” She then began slapping the student multiple times, Karpel said.
In a scene from the movie, one character literally tries to slap some sense into another. To view the scene, go to www.youtube.com and search for “Bridesmaids Annie and Megan’s talk part 1.”
“My client has not been back to the class, she’s been doing her school work in the library,” Karpel said. “She has been humiliated and devastated. She will be seeking counseling. It has been horrible.”
Karpel said the student’s mother is “furious” and is considering filing a civil lawsuit against the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
SMMUSD Superintendent Sandra Lyon said she could not comment on the investigation.
This story originally appeared in the Santa Monica Daily Press.