• 10
  • December
    2010

Twelve teachers from Minnesota are seeking workers compensation for the treatment of their post traumatic stress disorder that stems from a 2005 school shooting they were involved in. On March 21, 2005 a student gunman took the Red Lake High School hostage. Ten people including the student gunman died on the Red Lake Indian Reservation that day.

Currently, workers compensation law in Minnesota does not cover lost wages for mental health issues. In order for lost wages for mental health issues to be covered by workers compensation in Minnesota, the mental health issues must be associated with physical injuries. Twelve teachers that lived through the school shooting spree filed for workers compensation but were denied because they did not suffer any physical injuries. Even though they did not suffer physical injuries, they still feel that their mental injuries are real and invasive to their lives.

One of the teachers that filed for workers compensation, Mr. S, taught in a classroom right next to a classroom where the teenage shooter shot and killed one teacher and three students. After the shooter left that classroom, the shooter came into Mr. S's classroom, pointed the gun at Mr. S and fired off multiple shots. Mr. S taught for two years after the shooting but is no longer able to because of depression, flashbacks and periods of crippling anxiety. Mr. S says that he is not the same man as he was before the shooting.

All twelve teachers that applied for workers compensation no longer work at Red Lake High School and most are not teachers anymore. Their workers compensation case is being appealed and is set for trial over the next few months.

Source: Minnesota Public Radio, "Red Lake Teachers Seek Compensation for PTSD," Tom Robertson, 12/10/10