Teacher Wins $10M Settlement
In a landmark civil jury verdict on November 6, 2025, a Virginia jury awarded former first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner $10 million after finding that the former assistant principal at her school acted with gross negligence in the events leading up to Zwerner being shot by a 6-year-old student in January 2023.
The incident occurred at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, when a 9mm handgun brought to school by the young student was fired once in Zwerner’s classroom, hitting her in the hand and chest. She underwent multiple surgeries, has reduced use of her left hand, and carries a bullet fragment lodged near her chest.
Zwerner’s lawsuit against the former assistant principal, Ebony Parker, alleged that multiple staff members and students had communicated concerns that the child had a gun or had displayed threatening behavior before the shooting. The complaint claimed Parker failed to act on those warnings. The jury found in Zwerner’s favor, concluding the administrator’s inaction constituted actionable negligence.
The trial focused heavily on foreseeability and administrative responsibility. Parker contended she could not have foreseen the unprecedented event of a 6-year-old bringing a gun to school and shooting a teacher. The defense argued staff conducted searches and responded as was customary, and that hindsight bias should not govern the decision.
In addition to the civil trial, Parker faces a separate criminal case: she is charged with eight felony counts of child neglect in connection with the school-shooting incident’s handling. The student’s mother has already been sentenced for her role in the gun situation and child-neglect issues.
The verdict is significant not only for Zwerner personally but for school systems and administrators nationwide. It raises the bar on expectations for how schools respond to credible threats of violence, especially when warnings are reported. Precisely how this will affect policy, liability insurance and administrative training remains to play out—but the decision sets a strong precedent.
🧭 Why it matters
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It sends a strong message that school administrators may be legally accountable when warnings of threats are ignored.
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Reinforces the imperative of threat-assessment and proactive safety protocols in K-12 schools.
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The size of the award may influence liability insurance premiums and administrative risk management for school districts.
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Highlights the personal physical and psychological toll on educators and the long-term consequences of school-violence events.
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Could accelerate reforms in how schools investigate, document and respond to reports of weapons or violence, particularly involving very young students.
⚖️ Key legal outcomes
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Jury awarded the plaintiff $10 million in a negligence suit against a former school administrator.
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Finding that the assistant principal failed to act despite multiple prior warnings of a student with a gun.
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The case sets precedent for administrative liability in school-violence incidents involving very young children.
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Concurrent criminal case for the administrator remains active (child neglect charges) which may impact or be impacted by the civil verdict.
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The verdict may lead to increased litigation risk for school districts, altering how they handle threat reporting, searches and administrative response timelines.
