Alleged assault of special-needs teen settled for $13K

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The family of a special-needs teenager who was allegedly assaulted by a school bus monitor will receive a settlement of $13,000, The Connecticut Law Tribune reports.

According to a lawsuit filed by the mother of Tairah Merrill, the March 2012 incident began when Merrill, then 13, tapped school bus monitor Marcus Tappin’s leg. The suit alleges that Tappin reacted by shoving the girl against a window and making her hit her head on the ceiling. He then allegedly threw her across the aisle and onto another seat, holding her there until police arrived.

However, East Hartford officials disputed the lawsuit's account. Town Council Chairman Richard Kehoe told the Journal Inquirer that the settlement was “by no means an indication that the Town Council thought that the town employee did anything wrong,” but he said that it was in the town’s best interest to settle the case.

To read the full Connecticut Law Tribune story, go here.