Mom Sues After Student Forced Out Of Hillsborough Prom

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The mother of a special needs student has filed a lawsuit against the Hillsborough Township Public Schools District after her daughter and her friends were forced to leave the high school's prom early back in May.

The lawsuit was filed in Somerset County Superior Court on Dec. 9 by Katherine Trusky, mom of Lily Doyle who has Down Syndrome, against the board of education and paid chaperones at prom.

"This case concerns the basic right of a child to enjoy equal access to school programs and activities," according to the lawsuit filed by McOmber & McOmber, a law firm in Red Bank.

"Although the district has not yet been served with the lawsuit, it is aware of the same, and denies all charges of discrimination alleged therein. The District is proud of its commitment to providing all students with an excellent educational environment that is inclusive and non-discriminatory, and looks forward to presenting its defense to the allegations in court," said Michael Callahan, a spokesman for the Hillsborough School District.

On May 17, school district aides serving as paid chaperones at the prom being held at East Brunswick Hilton Hotel told a group of seven students — including Lily — to leave prom before the 11 p.m. curfew, despite the school's mandate that no one was to leave early, parents have said. (See Related: Special Needs Students Forced From Hillsborough Prom, Parents Say)

The lawsuit goes on to say Lily and her friends, many of whom also had intellectual disabilities, were "humiliated" and "singled out" when they were forced to leave the Senior Prom early while other, "neurotypical" students were allowed to stay.

Emily Valentino, Lily's guest for the night recounted the night saying that at 10:40 p.m. three kids were pulled off the dance floor.

"We begged to stay. One of the aides said we could stay. We ended up watching the king and queen through the doors, crying and protesting," Valentino said in June. (See Related: 'We Begged To Stay:' Student Speaks On Hillsborough Prom Ejection)

One of Lily's friends even told special-education aide Pamela Figard, "I just want to be normal," as Figard forced her to leave from the table.

"Lily Doyle and her friends left the Senior Prom in tears and with their memories forever tarnished after being unceremoniously herded out of the ballroom and sent home early by their instructional aides, solely because of their disabilities," the suit states.

The school district has since apologized to the special needs students weeks after the event and also said they were taking steps to ensure nothing similar will ever happen again, although they did not specify what actions they were taking. (See Related: Apology For Special Needs Students Forced From Hillsborough Prom)

The purpose of the suit is to expose the school district's conduct and to seek redress for their blatant discrimination, according to the suit.

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