New Mexico High School Faces Lawsuit Over Sword Duel Incident

A teacher's decision to have students duel with swords leads to severe injuries and legal action.

A New Mexico high school is facing a lawsuit after a teacher allegedly instructed students to duel with swords, resulting in a student suffering severe injuries.
The incident occurred in May 2022 at Volcano Vista High School, where teacher Loviata Mitchell is accused of hiding swords and then revealing them for a class duel.
The injured student, identified only as N.S., sustained a deep laceration that severed nerves and tendons, leading to permanent damage and PTSD.
The lawsuit alleges the school attempted to cover up the incident, with the assistant principal filing a report that downplayed the severity and violated school rules against deadly weapons.
Teacher Loviata Mitchell has been fired, and the lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the injured student.