CHARGES: Court Document Listing Formal Charges (PDF file)
SCHOOL REPORT: Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 (all PDF files)
ARREST REPORT: Kathy Garrett Arrest Report (PDF file)
LETTER: Teachers' Union Responds To Parent Who Complained (PDF file)

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Channel 9 has learned that the Seminole County School District is facing a federal lawsuit in connection with the Kathy Garrett case.

While teacher's union attorney Joe Egan is still representing Garrett, her alleged actions have now exposed her and Seminole County public schools to its first lawsuit stemming from the child abuse case.

Parent Lizbeth Ortiz and her disabled son are the plaintiffs in the suit that blames the Seminole County School District for letting abuse continue in Garrett's classroom at South Seminole Middle School.

The suit claims that the school district was aware of Garrett's actions and let them continue. The filing is the first from several parents who are seeking legal action against Garrett and the school board.

This development comes on the heels of formal charges against Garrett earlier this week. The former teacher was charged with five counts of child abuse on Monday and pled not guilty on Tuesday. She faces up to 75 years in prison if convicted.

A spokesperson for the school district had not seen the lawsuit as of Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Egan, the local attorney hired by the Seminole Education Association, continues to represent Garrett in the criminal court. There's no word if the union will pay for Egan to represent her in federal court.

This lawsuit is not a surprise for school district officials. They have said before that it is almost expected in this case. In fact, the school district even keeps insurance for these types of suits.