WELLSBURG — The parents of a Brooke County Schools special needs student have filed a lawsuit against the county school board, claiming their child was sexually abused by another student while under the supervision of school staff.

The suit names John and Jane Doe as plaintiffs, stating, “Due to the nature of the allegations, pseudonyms have been used to protect the identity of plaintiffs and their severely developmentally disabled minor child.”

The parents claim their child sat in the back of a school bus used for special needs students and next to another special needs student who was known to be disruptive and abusive to him and others.

They said the other child sexually abused their child between September 19, 2023 and October 5, 2023, and that “intimidation, assault, battery, assault and abuse were recorded on bus surveillance video.”

The lawsuit alleges that the bus driver and a counselor assigned to help the students were aware of the situation and failed to act, and that the parents asked school officials to remove the other student from the bus and they did not.

Attorneys for the parents are seeking at least $5 million in damages through the school district’s liability insurance provider.

Reached for comment, Superintendent Jeffrey Crook referred questions about the case to attorneys representing the school district in the matter.

They did not return calls for comment.

The case is pending before the First Judicial Circuit Court.