IPS, former ‘Fight Club’ teacher sued once again

INDIANAPOLIS — A new lawsuit has been filed against Indianapolis Public Schools and former teacher Julious Johnican, who was once accused of filming student fights and egging on the attackers.

Johnson and IPS were just recently at the center of a separate lawsuit involving the “fight club-style” discipline Johnican was accused of fostering in his classroom. In April, that lawsuit ended with IPS agreeing to pay out a $1,208,500 settlement.

This latest lawsuit centers on a different student who was under Johnican’s care — a 6-year-old special needs student. Attorneys representing the student argue that IPS staff, such as Johnican, allowed a pattern of physical abuse and bullying to be inflicted on this special needs student for months despite the parents’ attempts to seek protection for their child.

According to the lawsuit, the child required surgery after being seriously injured in September 2023. The child was allegedly shoved off the monkey bars with school staff failing to contact emergency personnel or inform the child’s family of the full extent of the injury.

“The harm suffered was not random,” said attorney Catherine Michael, representing the 6-year-old and her family. “It is the foreseeable consequence when there is a school culture that ignores repeated warnings, dismisses concerns raised by families, and allows a dangerous environment to persist.”

Michael also represented the victim involved in the April settlement.

This new lawsuit claims the culture of bullying extended beyond the troubled classroom of Julious Johnican. After Johnican was removed in November 2022, the lawsuit alleges that the abuse against their client continued. Substitute teachers, aides, and other IPS staff allegedly witnessed the mistreatment of the student and took no meaningful action to stop the bullying.

Family eventually pulled the child out of the school district entirely in 2024 after the special needs student was allegedly stabbed in the hand with a pencil.

“This case is about accountability,” said attorney Tammy Meyer, also representing the child. “A 6-year-old child reported serious harm over and over again. Her family pleaded for help. And IPS did nothing.”

FOX59/CBS4 has reached out to IPS for comment.