Basically what it says. If the principal (or vice principal) of the school violates law, defames a student, etc., can that person be sued, plus the school as a whole, and the district that he represents? And can it be done in one lawsuit? And if so, who do you serve the lawsuit to?
As a general rule, if the wrongs alleged against the various parties arise out of common set of circumstances, then the principle of "judicial economy" will support a law suit with all the various defendants named in that one action. However, the particulars of your situation must be carefully analyzed in light of the laws of your state to see if there is an exception to that general rule.
You would be well served to consult with local counsel. Mostly always, consultations with tort lawyers, (as would be the case in a defamation claim,) are free and if the firm is retained, it would be on a contingency basis. In other words, other than your time, there is no cost nor harm in actually speaking to a local experienced practitioner, albeit more inconvenient than this "immediate-feedback" venue of .
Good luck !
Travis Scott EllerPersonal Injury LawyerSeattle, WA ·
Generally all potential defendants can and usually should be named in one lawsuit.
Employers are liable for acts of their employees done in the course of employment.
Whether you have a strong case or not is impossible to say from the modest amount of information provided.
The resolution of the issues you've raised is more complex than an answer to your posted question. Bringing claims, administrative or judicial, against any governmental unit is never a simple thing. The government itself wrote the rules for making such claims. So, do you think they made it easy?
Long before drafting suit papers, one has to meet legal procedural requirements such as notice, giving that notice to the proper individuals and/or entities in the form specified in the law, presentation of the claim as required, meeting deadlines, and determination of what causes of action exist. This is only a quickie summary in response to a general question.
But, the answer to your question is yes. Generally speaking, multi party and multi count litigation is quite common where the parties and claims share a common nucleus of operative facts.
Governmental immunity often complicates or precludes suits against public schools and officials. Whether you can assert a claim in your circumstances, and, if so, whom you may wish to name as defendants largely will turn on the law in your particular state. You should confer with a plaintiff attorney in your area, particularly one with experience in areas such as negligence, libel, slander, and civil rights.
