Cyrus Csutoras v. Paradise High School

BACKGROUND

Csutoras transferred to Paradise High School during his freshman year. Because of his attention deficit disorder, he requested, and the school granted, two accommodations pursuant to a Section 504 plan. The accommodations allowed him (1) extra time to complete work when necessary, and (2) assisted review of his notes to help keep him organized. Both Csutoras and his mother signed off on the proposed plan and denied the need for any further accommodations. Csutoras’s agreed-upon educational plan was entirely academic in nature; he never requested any other accommodations from the school—including any social accommodations related to harassment or bullying.

On August 28, 2015, Csutoras was talking with a female classmate (Faith) at a high school football game when a male classmate (Justin) suddenly approached and assaulted Csutoras, punching him several times in the face. Csutoras was seriously injured by the assault. The school had four

CSUTORAS V. PARADISE HIGH SCHOOL

adults supervising the game, but none of them observed or stopped the incident. Both parties agree that Justin’s motivation for the assault was not connected in any way to…