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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Ind. Decisions - "Court sides with teacher accused of slapping girl"

Yesterday's 2-1 Court of Appeals decisions in the case of State of Indiana v. Paula J. Fettig (see ILB entry here, second case) is featured on the front page of today's Indianapolis Star, in a lengthy story reported by Jon Murray that begins:

Indiana's corporal punishment laws protect a Beech Grove gym teacher accused of slapping a student from facing battery charges, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

The panel upheld a Marion Superior Court judge's dismissal last year of the case against Paula J. Fettig on the grounds that the teacher was trying to restore order to her class.
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A 15-year-old girl accused Fettig of slapping her in January 2007 during a physical education class at Beech Grove High School. The girl, unnamed in court records, was helping an injured classmate.

Fettig denies slapping her and has said she only gripped her chin.

None of the conflicting accounts amounts to cruel or excessive physical punishment, Judge Patricia A. Riley wrote in the 2-1 decision.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 16, 2008 07:26 AM
Posted to Ind. App.Ct. Decisions