ANKENY, Iowa - A woman says she has permanent brain damage from bullying at an Ankeny school.
Audrey Vacek says she is seeking damages for negligence from the school district and the family of the girl who attacked her.
Vacek says she was punched in the face by the girl, causing her head to hit the concrete classroom wall.
The injuries she suffered led to brain damage and panic attacks.
The girl who attacked Vacek was punished in juvenile court, according to Vacek's lawsuit. It claims part of the sentence required the girl to share anti-bullying speeches at Ankeny Centennial High School, and was given a school spirit award for giving the speeches.
"Honestly, I was furious." Vacek tells WHO Channel 13. "It's just infuriating that even though she admitted to bullying me and assaulting me, she admitted it under oath, and they gave her an award," says Vacek, "The school knew that she admitted it, they knew everything and they still gave her an award."
The lawsuit claims that Vacek spoke to administrators including a Vice Principal and a School Counselor about the bullying long before the attack.
Then, in September 2016, Vacek says the girl punched her during Spanish class when the teacher left the room. She says doctors diagnosed her with brain damage, which causes memory loss and panic attacks.
Vacek says she was forced to quit the varsity volleyball team because of the threat of suffering a second, potentially fatal, head injury.
The Ankeny School District says it can't speak directly about pending litigation but it defends its anti-bullying response:
"Ankeny Schools is sympathetic to the physical and emotional issues described in the student’s reported experience. Bullying behavior is taken seriously and not condoned in Ankeny Schools. There are policies and procedures in place for students who feel they experience bullying. When concerns or issues regarding student conduct arise, Ankeny Community Schools administrators investigate any reports and follow policy set by the Board of Education, based on the circumstances. We investigate every report we receive and do not take any allegation lightly. When fulfilling this duty, we respect the privacy of both those raising the concerns, as well as those whose actions are questioned."