New Jersey student may get $175K after being poked in the eye with pencil

PATERSON, N.J. – A school district may pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of a student whose vision was permanently damaged when one of his classmates poked him in the right eye with a pencil five years ago.

The injured student, Elijah Reyes, was 11 at the time of the incident April 2014 in a classroom at Don Bosco Technology Academy, according to the lawsuit. The school is a part of Paterson Public Schools.

The suit claims the teacher, Patricia Calafiore, was negligent in providing adequate supervision of her students.

Court records do not say what punishment – if any – was given to the student who injured Reyes.

Lawyers for the school district and Reyes reached a tentative settlement, according to court records. The agreement needs approval from the Paterson Board of Education to become final.

The school board is scheduled to vote on the $175,000 deal at its meeting Nov. 26.

Reyes’ lawyer could not be reached for comment. School board members declined to discuss the case because it involves pending litigation.

Calafiore retired in 2015, according to state pension records. 

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