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January 14th, 2021

Pennridge School District Sued by Family of Student for Failing to Protect Her from Sexual Abuse by Bus Driver

Maryland Supreme Court Hears Arguments to 2023 Child Victims Act

Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan represents a victim who was sexually abused as a minor by a school bus driver employee claiming the district failed to protect and report known or suspected child abuse

PHILADELPHIA (January 14, 2021) – Philadelphia attorneys Guy D’Andrea, Stewart Ryan, and Alexandria MacMaster of Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan, LLP today announce that they have filed a lawsuit against Pennridge School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on behalf of their client, Jane Doe. Doe is a student with special needs who suffered devastating and traumatic sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of her bus driver while enrolled in Pennridge School District.

The lawsuit seeks to hold Pennridge accountable for exposing the plaintiff and other students to easily avoidable abuse and mistreatment at the hands of James McIntyre, a bus driver hired to transport the victim from Pennridge to The Vanguard School, a school in Malvern, Pennsylvania that was better equipped to meet her special needs.

The lawsuit alleges that McIntyre, who had a reputation for acting inappropriately with female students with special needs during his employment, also sexually abused another minor student with special needs whom he transported.

According to attorney Guy D’Andrea, “Children with special needs and intellectual disabilities are the most vulnerable population among us. This cannot and should not ever happen at the hands of adults who are tasked with protecting our children. Simple safety rules should have been in place. Pennridge School District must be held accountable for putting these students at risk and failing to put into action the necessary precautions to keep students safe.”

After the criminal investigation during which McIntyre confessed to the sexual assault, he was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Institutional Sexual Assault, and other related felony and misdemeanor charges. McIntyre pled Guilty to two counts of School- Intercourse/Sexual Contact with a Student and Indecent exposure. He is now a registered sex offender and was sentenced to state prison for two and half to six years of incarceration for sexually abusing the plaintiff and another special needs student.

Anyone with information about Pennridge or McIntyre or who has been victimized themselves can call the law firm’s hotline at 800-220-7600. For more information, contact Guy D’Andrea or Stewart Ryan directly at 800-220-7600, sryan@laffeybucci.com or GDAndrea@laffeybucci.com.

Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan, LLP is a personal injury law firm representing individuals seriously injured due to the negligence of others. The trial lawyers at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan have a long history of fighting for victims of crime, especially survivors of physical and sexual abuse, through lawsuits in the civil justice system. For more information, go to www.laffeybucci.com.