NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — The legal teams involved in former Richneck Elementary School teacher Abby Zwerner’s $40 million civil suit against the Newport News School District appeared in Court Thursday morning.
Complete Coverage: Richneck Elementary School Shooting
The suit comes after Zwerner was shot by one of her students, who was just 6 years old at the time of the incident, in January of 2023.
Timeline: Richneck Elementary School shooting
The suit alleges that the former assistant principal Ebony Parker, who was charged with eight counts of felony child abuse in March of 2024, should face consequences as a result of her “grossly negligent dereliction of duty that resulted in Abby’s life being forever altered.”
Zwerner lawsuit will head to trial
In July of 2025, former superintendent Dr. George Parker and Richneck Elementary School principal Brianna Foster Newton were dismissed from the case, with Newport News Circuit Court Judge Matthew Hoffman stating that allegations of simple negligence are protected by sovereign immunity.
More recently, in August of 2025, a judge ruled that the civil trial can move forward as scheduled, after defense attorneys argued that the criminal trial should come before the civil trial against parker.
Richneck civil case can happen before criminal trial
During the criminal trial, which is set for Nov. 17, Parker faces eight counts of felony child abuse, with one charge for each bullet found in the gun used against Zwerner.
10 On Your Side’s Karina F. Garcia was in the courtroom Thursday morning and will provide updates throughout the day…