St. Charles Dist. 303 settles playground bully lawsuit
The family of a St. Charles elementary school student has settled its lawsuit against St. Charles Unit District 303, in which they alleged the boy's right arm was broken because school officials failed to protect him from a bully.
The suit was settled and dismissed this summer, according to court records, after the district's insurance carrier paid $15,000 to cover the 8-year-old boy's medical expenses. The suit states the boy was injured after another student pushed him off playground equipment Oct. 16, 2012, at Davis Elementary School, 1125 S. Seventh St.
After attorney fees were paid, a Medicaid lien was settled, and the boy's mom was reimbursed for lost work time and expenses, the boy received $7,809 to be held in a savings account until he reaches 18 in October 2023, records show.
Any withdrawals before then need permission from the court. The boy's mom asked last month to withdraw $300 for a trip to LegoLand Chicago for her son, and Judge Edward Schreiber agreed, records show.
"The minor's mother believes that such a trip will be very beneficial to the minor before he starts school. (Minor) is starting at a new school because of this incident. His mother didn't want him to go to the same school," the boy's attorney wrote in court papers.
The district did not admit fault, and attorney Monica Banet wrote in the settlement that the district denies the "allegations in (plaintiff's) complaint."
The boy's lawsuit sought unspecified damages, arguing school officials were aware of the bullying and failed to execute a plan to keep the two boys apart at all times.
Prison for Elgin burglary:
In 2006, Jonathan R. Buczak got 30 months probation after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of a firearm, a felony that carried up to 15 years behind bars.
Buczak, 27, didn't avoid prison this time around.
Buczak, of the 6N300 block of Whitmore Circle in St. Charles, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty in late August to residential burglary stemming from the December 2013 break-in of a home on the 500 block of Red Tail Ridge in Elgin.
He also must pay $1,035 in fines and fees under the plea agreement, records show.
Under state law, Buczak can have his prison term halved for good behavior while in custody. He also gets credit for 227 days served at the Kane County jail while his case was pending.
Celebrate safely:
The Schaumburg-based Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists, or AAIM, is reminding residents to celebrate Labor Day weekend safely by designating a sober driver or taking a cab or taxi to get home.
"One too many or a few too many, there is no excuse to take a chance," the group said. "Be responsible. If someone you know has been drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel."
hhitzeman@dailyherald.com