AUBURN — The mother of a Minot boy is suing a substitute teacher for negligence after her son was assaulted by another student in the classroom during the teacher’s absence.

Joel Clavet was a student at Lewiston Middle School in May 2011 when he was assaulted by another juvenile student named in the suit as John Doe, according to a complaint filed Wednesday in Androscoggin County Superior Court.

The complaint was filed by Clavet’s mother, Maureen, on behalf of her son.

Therese Blaisdell of Lewiston was working as a substitute teacher on the day of the assault, the complaint said. She left the classroom to talk about personal matters to another teacher in the hallway when the assault occurred, the complaint said.

She had known that “John Doe” had “behavioral issues, including, but not limited to, a proclivity for violence.”

Joel Clavet apparently suffered a facial cut that required stitches; the other student was charged with assault by police.

Maureen Clavet brought a count of negligent supervision against Blaisdell, claiming the teacher had a “duty to supervise the students in her care and to supervise her classroom,” according to the complaint.

She breached her duty by failing to supervise the classroom and leaving minors in the classroom without proper adult supervision with a child “that suffered from known behavior issues.”

Because of Blaisdell’s actions, she “enabled” the other student to assault Clavet, the complaint said.

Clavet suffered physical injury and scarring, the complaint said.

Maureen Clavet is seeking “just and appropriate” damages, including the costs of the suit and attorney’s fees.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com

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