Gathright v. Lincoln Insurance

Darrell Hickman, Justice.

Chris Newton, 8, was severely brain damaged when he hanged himself at school with a “bathroom pass” made and provided by this third grade teacher, Jack Taylor. The pass was made from quarter inch plywood, was approximately four inches wide and eight inches long, and had an 18 to 20 inch nylon cord attached. Students in Taylor’s class used the pass, often wearing it around their necks, to show they were authorized to be out of the classroom. According to Greg Peters, a third grade student and the only eye witness, Chris said he was going to hang himself and, after…