Lake Central School Corp. denies accusations over bullying lawsuit

HAMMOND | Lake Central School Corp. officials deny accusations they violated the civil rights of a 17-year-old Middle Eastern student, federal court records filed Wednesday show.

The boy's parents, Osama and Hind Haddad, sued the school corporation and its officials last month, arguing the school violated David Haddad's civil rights by not protecting him from verbal harassment, threats of violence and an alleged Nov. 8 beating. The lawsuit in Hammond federal court also claims the verbal and physical attacks were aimed at Haddad because of his Middle Eastern heritage.

Attorney Michael Sears, who represents the school corporation, School Board President George Baranowski, Superintendent Larry Veracco, Lake Central High School Principal Robert McDermott and Lake Central Assistant Principal Sean Begley Jr. denied the Haddads' claims and previously told The Times his clients would be exonerated.

Sears and other attorneys representing the school corporation reiterated their stance in court documents filed Wednesday. The attorneys denied all claims made by the Haddad family and also denied accusations they missed a filing deadline.

One of the Haddad family's attorneys, Matthew Anderson, had filed a motion Tuesday for default judgment in the civil lawsuit, claiming the defendants missed a required filing deadline.

Attorneys representing the school corporation and its officials argue the law gives them until Jan. 9 to answer the Haddads' complaint, court records state. They filed their answer on Wednesday morning, denying the family's accusations.