St. Paul schools fault teacher for attack that prompted lawsuit

The St. Paul school district has claimed a Central High School teacher was at fault for injuries he sustained breaking up a fight late last year.

Teacher John Ekblad sued the district after a Central student choked him unconscious in December. Police say the attack left Ekblad unconscious for 10 to 20 seconds. In his lawsuit, Ekblad says he suffered a traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome as a result of the incident.

Ekblad's suit claims the school district knew conditions at the school were dangerous and failed to take precautions to prevent injuries. The complaint says the district "could have and should have prevented Mr. Ekblad's injuries by properly supervising its premises and students."

In a response filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, the district says Ekblad's injuries were the result of his own "carelessness, negligence, fault and other unlawful conduct." The response denies that the district is guilty of any negligence and says Ekblad assumed a risk of damages when he started employment with the St. Paul district. The district asked that Ekblad's lawsuit be dismissed.

The December incident came as St. Paul teachers were negotiating a new contract, and it prompted a strike threat by the teachers' union. The eventual deal, which the St. Paul school board approved March 22, includes the equivalent of 30 additional support staff for schools and funding to pilot restorative justice practices at up to 12 schools over the next three years.

No court dates have been set for Ekblad's lawsuit.