Bonita Vista High School teacher claims harassment in lawsuit against student
Student Dustin Swanson faces lawsuit
Posted: 09/26/2012
Last Updated:
266 days ago
CHULA VISTA, Calif. - A local high school teacher is suing a student after she claims he threatened her life -- allegations the student said the teacher made up.
According to a lawsuit obtained by 10News, Bonita Vista High School science teacher Erendira Rangel has not returned to class because she's afraid for her life and has been hospitalized from anxiety over the episode.
However, 17-year-old senior Dustin Swanson said the only thing he's guilty of is swearing.
"I asked her why she gave me an F. She refused to tell me, I said some things I shouldn't have," said Swanson.
"What did you say?" asked 10News reporter Vanessa Van Hyfte.
"I said this is BS," said Swanson.
Eleven days later, Rangel filed a lawsuit and requested a restraining order against Swanson.
"She added things to it, saying my son cornered her," said Swanson's mother, Laura.
"You don't believe it?" asked Van Hyfte.
Laura Swanson responded, "Not at all."
According to the suit, Rangel said Swanson "snapped and waited for other students to leave before he got aggressive toward me."
She also claimed the student "verbally attacked me and physically threatened me with his hand."
Swanson said, "I walked out, never physically threatened her nor would I want to."
The lawsuit, which asks for an unspecified amount of money, goes on to say Swanson "aggressively pointed his finger in my face, saying listen you (expletive) b****, now you are going to tell me why you gave me an F. That is (BS) bull****."
According to the suit, Rangel said, "I have had a panic attack … missed four days of work because I have been sick due to the student's harassment and in the hospital for two days."
"Your senior year is supposed to be fun memories not you being taken to court by your teacher," said Swanson's mother.
A Sweetwater Union High School District representative said, "The district is not involved in the suit. The individual is filing independently."
The district representative also said they would not comment on student or personnel issues.
Swanson said he is offering no apologies and told 10News, "I don't regret it. It's ridiculous that a teacher is doing something like this."
Swanson said he was thrown out of class for a day, but no other action was taken.
10News learned Rangel filed a similar lawsuit against a student last year, but that suit was later dismissed.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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