The father of a former Trailside Elementary School student is suing the Park City School District for allegedly causing his daughter emotional distress by refusing to discipline a teacher accused of verbally abusing her pupils.
Bryan Knepper filed the lawsuit in Summit County’s Third District Court last week. He stated his daughter attended Trailside Elementary School from 2023 to 2025, when she experienced “ongoing trauma and abuse” by her teacher.
However, the court filing does not indicate the manner in which the daughter experienced the reported abuse, nor does it provide documentation detailing communications with the teacher or the school district about the alleged incidents.
The court complaint states that Knepper spoke to the district about his concerns, though, and that the administration “failed to take adequate steps to protect” his daughter. Knepper said he subsequently removed his daughter from the school district and enrolled her in a Salt Lake Valley private school, “resulting in significant tuition and related costs.”
“Counselors and educators determined it was in (the daughter’s) best academic and emotional interest to repeat the fifth grade due to the trauma she experienced,” the complaint said. “Plaintiff has incurred substantial financial and emotional damages as a result.”
Knepper’s complaint accused the district of negligence, educational negligence and intentionally inflicting emotional distress. He stated administrators “failed to prevent or remedy the abuse despite prior reports” and pointed out the district’s responsibility to care for and protect students.
“(The district’s) failure to act caused (the daughter) to suffer harm, lose educational opportunities and incur unnecessary hardship,” the complaint said.
Knepper concluded the filing by requesting $29,970 in “tuition and related educational expenses,” as well as a minimum of $300,000 for “emotional distress and loss of educational opportunity.”
He also filed a second lawsuit, with the same information and demands, specifically naming the teacher as an individual.
The Park City School District said it is aware of the recent filing but declined to comment on the case, citing ongoing litigation. No hearing dates had been set as of Tuesday.