Federal Lawsuit Filed Against CCSD Over Abuse of Autistic Student

Phoong Law Files Federal Civil-Rights Lawsuit Against Clark County School District Over Abuse of Autistic Student

Las Vegas, Nevada – October 16, 2025

Phoong Law has filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada on behalf of a non-verbal child with autism who was allegedly abused by a teacher at Sandra Thompson Elementary School during the 2019–2020 school year.

Allegations in the Complaint

The complaint names Clark County School District (CCSD), the school’s principal, and the teacher as defendants. It alleges that the teacher, who was criminally charged in 2020 for acts of abuse toward students, engaged in unlawful conduct against the child. The lawsuit further claims that the district and principal knowingly placed the student in her classroom despite prior reports of misconduct.

The lawsuit asserts violations of the child’s Fourth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), along with claims of negligence, negligent supervision, and battery.

Failure to Protect and Inform

“Our client is a non-verbal, autistic child, completely reliant on adults for protection and communication,” said Attorney Anh Phoong, founder of Phoong Law. “According to the lawsuit, the district, the principal, and the teacher all share responsibility for allowing this abuse to happen. CCSD failed to protect vulnerable students.”

According to the filing, the district and its administrators also failed to inform the child’s parents that he was among the victims in the teacher’s alleged criminal case.

“The child’s mother did not learn that her son had been abused until years later,” Phoong added. “That level of silence is unacceptable. The district failed to safeguard the student and then failed to tell his family the truth.”

Seeking Accountability

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants’ actions represented deliberate indifference and systemic negligence, resulting in the violation of the child’s civil and constitutional rights. Phoong Law argues that the case highlights a pattern of discrimination and neglect toward students with disabilities and seeks compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of the child.

“Every adult involved, from the classroom to district leadership, had a duty to protect this student,” Phoong said. “They didn’t, and the family now faces the lasting consequences of a system that failed them.”

The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada on October 15, 2025, with a case-management conference expected later this year.

All statements in this article are based on allegations outlined in the federal complaint filed with the court.