Boy’s Mother Sues Over Birthday Beating

A woman whose son was beaten on his birthday by classmates at an Orange middle school in October has filed a lawsuit against the school district and the attackers.

Robyn Worden, 40, alleged in the lawsuit that Portola Middle School officials were negligent in failing to prevent three 13-year-old boys from viciously pummeling her son Jeremy on his 14th birthday.

Jeremy was hospitalized for 11 days with spleen injuries, his mother said.

He has recovered and is back at Portola.

Several students have said it was common to lightly strike those celebrating birthdays but that Jeremy’s alleged assailants had gone beyond the playful ritual.

Worden’s lawsuit, filed on behalf of her son, also blames the parents of the three boys.

Under state law, parents can be held responsible for certain types of misconduct by their children.The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, follows an administrative claim filed this year and rejected by the district April 11.

That claim sought $1 million in general damages and about $55,000 in medical expenses from the district.