The DeKalb County School District is being sued for damages after a student received severe burns during a science experiment gone wrong.
According to the lawsuit, filed in December, Michael Dowling of Fernbank Science Center was at Stone Mountain Middle School on Aug. 20, 2018, performing a demonstration involving liquid nitrogen. The chemical was inadvertently poured onto a table, when it hit the student's leg, causing "significant burns" and scarring to her leg.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Salatian Straughter, the father of the victim, and is seeking full compensation for personal injuries and damages. It does not specify a dollar amount.
The DeKalb County School District typically does not comment on outstanding legal matters.
Efforts to reach Kyle Califf, the Augusta personal-injury attorney representing the student and her father, also were not successful.
In another incident involving a science demonstration gone awry, the attorney for a Redan High School student burned during an experiment said the district would not cover the costs for the teen's reconstructive surgery. Malachi McFadden was burned on his face, neck and arms in an experiment on Aug. 6 at the school. Attorney L. Chris Stewart said school district officials told them the district would not insure the teacher for the incident.
Malachi’s burns will require several surgeries to repair the damage.
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