Palm Beach School Board Sued Over Alleged Hallway Attack on Santaluces High Student

by Legal Desk | Apr 3, 2026 · 8:17 am | Palm Beach County News

Palm Beach School Board Sued Over Alleged Hallway Attack on Santaluces High Student

Last Updated: Apr 3, 2026 · 8:17 am

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LANTANA, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — The parents of a minor student have sued the School Board of Palm Beach County Florida, alleging the district failed to properly supervise students at Santaluces Community High School before the child was allegedly attacked on campus.

The case, Clenes & Marceline Accelus, as parent and legal/natural guardian of D.A., a minor v. School Board of Palm Beach County Florida, was filed April 1, 2026, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, under Case No. 502026CA003698XXXAMB.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs are Clenes and Marceline Accelus, identified as the parents and natural guardians of Darlens Accelus, a minor. The defendant is the School Board of Palm Beach County Florida, which the complaint identifies as the agency responsible for owning, operating, maintaining, controlling and supervising Santaluces Community High School at 6880 Lawrence Rd. in Lantana. The complaint was filed by Boca Raton-based Ovincy Injury Law, LLC. No defense law firm is listed in the complaint.

The lawsuit says the minor was an enrolled student at Santaluces Community High School and that the events at issue happened on or about April 17, 2024, in Palm Beach County. The complaint states the plaintiffs complied with the statutory pre-suit notice requirement under section 768.28(6), Florida Statutes, by mailing the required letter to the defendant and waiting more than six months before filing suit.

In a single count for negligence supervision, the plaintiffs claim the child was lawfully on school property as an enrolled student and was under the care of school staff at the time. The complaint alleges the School Board employed teachers and other personnel to teach and care for students, and that those employees were trained to monitor hallways and student gathering areas before school, during class breaks, and after school to protect student safety.

According to the complaint, the minor was “inadequately and improperly supervised” by school employees on April 17, 2024. The filing claims that failure in supervision resulted in the child being “jumped and beaten to the ground,” causing personal injuries.

The plaintiffs further allege the School Board had a duty to reasonably supervise students during activities under the school’s control, including while students were walking through hallways during lunch and on the way to class. The complaint claims that duty was breached because teachers and school personnel were allegedly not monitoring the hallways and student gathering areas during lunch.

As a result, the lawsuit claims the minor suffered personal injuries, pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional injury, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation and embarrassment. The plaintiffs seek damages in excess of $50,000, along with costs, disbursements, prejudgment interest where applicable, and a jury trial. These are allegations made in the complaint and have not been proven in court.

The original complaint, Clenes & Marceline Accelus, as parent and legal/natural guardian of D.A., a minor v. School Board of Palm Beach County Florida, Case No. 502026CA003698XXXAMB, as filed April 1, 2026, with the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court, can be viewed here.

Slip-and-fall and similar injury cases often involve questions about property safety and responsibility. Boca Post explains how premises liability lawsuits work in Palm Beach County courts. New civil lawsuits are filed across Palm Beach County courts each week. Boca Post reports on those filings in its Boca Raton lawsuits coverage.
 

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