Lawmaker Tells Teachers to Sue School Districts Over Mental Conditions

Wednesday, May 8, 2019 | 0

North Dakota school teachers, who are increasingly being attacked by students, should sue their school districts over their mental health conditions rather than turn to the workers’ comp system, a state lawmaker said.

Rep. Marvin Nelson

State Rep. Marvin Nelson, D-Rolla, said North Dakota's workers’ comp system covers only physical injuries, not mental conditions such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, Valley News Live reported.

The publication noted that incidents of school staff being hurt by students are becoming more frequent.

"Those teachers who are talking about the environment they're working in and how they're fearful and how they're starting to suffer mental injuries — the school system in Fargo is completely liable," Nelson told Valley News Live.

If local school districts face enough expensive lawsuits, Nelson said, the legislature would feel pressure to make mental-only claims compensable in the state's system.