Posted at: 08/14/2012 6:58 PM
By: Brittany Lewis

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Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District Lawsuit

(ABC 6 News) -- The Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District commented Tuesday on a lawsuit filed by the mother of three black students. The complaint states tehre were several instances where the girls were called the "N" word and went to school officials for help but nothing was done. 

The complaint also states the girls were suspended after getting into fights with white students, but the white students were not.  The school's Superindendent found the girl's accusations to be untrue.

The lawsuit filed on July 27th in the United States District Court of Minnesota States: The three sisters were subjected to harassment and discrimination on the basis of race. The suit alleges the Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District had actual knowledge of discrimination and failed to take adequate steps to address the conduct.

"Our investigation did not find any facts that would contribute to their allegation," said Superindendent Tony Simons.

But the Minneapolis Attorney representing the three girls, Joshua Williams, says by denying the allegations, the school district has failed the students again.

"Rather than take time to reflect and try to come up with some way to remedy the conduct, instead they've, the school district has turned a blind eye to their conduct again,"said Williams.

The attorney representing these girls is the same attorney that represented the girl in the discrimination case against the Red Wing School District. That case was settled earlier this month for $90,000.

"It's like dejavu at this time last year, I was bringing a lawsuit on behalf of my client against Red Wing and here I am right down the road in Goodhue County again," Williams added.

For now though, school officials say they'll let the suit play out in court.

"The allegations of civil rights violations are false. We will stand up for what we've done and take our case to court," said Simons.

The lawsuit against the Red Wing School District, which involved an event called Wigger Wednesday, took about a year. So chances are, this isn't the last we will hear about the lawsuit in Zumbrota-Mazeppa.