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Ratley's Attorney Files Suit Against School Board

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4)-The lawyer of the teenager who was severely beaten near her middle school appeared in court Thursday to file a lawsuit against the School Board of Broward County.

Josie Lou Ratley's attorney, Sean Domnick, was at the Broward County Courthouse at 10:30 a.m. He claimed that as a result of the School Board's negligence Rately suffered permanent injuries and is completely disabled.

"The school board hasn't even offered any of the resources, not talking even about a lawsuit or anything like that," Domnick said. "Any of their school resources have not been offered to Josie to help her out through this rehabilitation process."

Dominick said they have been unable to reach an agreement with the school district about her care. The lawsuit claims the school district was negligent in not preventing her beating.

"They had totally inadequate security to meet the needs of these kids," he said. "They have the end of the school day with 100 kids waiting for the school bus to be there. They're not supposed to allow folks who are not students at the school to be on the property without going through the proper channels. They didn't do that. They didn't have a good system in place to protect their kids."

Ratley nor her mother, Hilda Gotay Ratley, was in attendance at the courthouse.

Ratley was stomped on the head with steel-toe boots at a bus stop near her middle school following an argument via text-message.

Wayne Treacy was charged with attempted murder in the March 17 attack of the Deerfield Beach Middle School student.

Ratley was left with severe brain damage following the assault

The teen, now 16-years-old, spent months in a hospital and rehab facility before heading home to further recover.

Her attorney said that while Ratley has made progress her therapy is ongoing and costly.

"She is making progress but as we've said all along the road ahead of her is still longer than the road behind her in terms of getting her back to normal," Domnick said. "But we all remain hopeful that with the proper care, with the proper treatment, that she will eventually be able to lead a productive life."

In December, lawyers for 16-year-old Treacy filed a lawsuit against the Broward County School Board and the Sheriff's Office. He claimed that he's being cheated out of an education while in jail.

He still has to stand trial on attempted first degree murder charges.

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