KNOXVILLE — A lawsuit seeking more than $10 million in damages accuses an assistant wrestling coach at Chuckey Doak High School of sexually assaulting a Greene County teen during an overnight trip.

The suit also claims the school district mishandled the investigation.

The family at the center of the lawsuit says the school failed to protect students during an overnight wrestling trip to Knox County.

School officials say they acted appropriately when they heard allegations of the incident. But the family’s attorney says the trip never should have happened in the first place.

According to a lawsuit filed in the Knox County Circuit Court, the Chuckey Doak High School wrestling team went to a tournament in Knoxville in February 2014.The trip was not approved by the school district. The team, head coach Elwood Kahley and two assistant coaches stayed at the Days Inn on Central Avenue Pike in Knoxville.

It’s there that the lawsuit claims Assistant Coach Deaton Myers was left alone with high school students at a pool. One of the players says Myers exposed himself and sexually assaulted and battered him.

Greene County Director of Schools Dr. Vicki Kirk wouldn’t comment on the suit, but she tells 10News Myers was never employed by the school district and that he was never approved to travel with the team. Kirk says the school handled the incident when they found out about it, but could not go into specifics.

Three months after the incident, police arrested Myers on assault charges of extremely offensive or provocative contact. The grand jury is currently evaluating the evidence to decide whether to indict him.

Knoxville attorney George Underwood represents the family bringing the lawsuit against Greene County Schools; he’s worked as a teacher in the past and says the school failed to uphold their duty to protect students in their care.

“Teachers, coaches, principals– when parents entrust the kids to your care you’ve got to protect them like you’re taking care of your own children,” he said.

The suit is seeking $10.5 million in punitive and compensatory damages against Green County Schools and Deaton Myers. Underwood says this should send a message to other schools about standing up for their students.

“To communicate to other school systems the importance and deter any other school systems from not enforcing their policies where things like this happen,” he explained.

The student is no longer enrolled at Chuckey Doak High School. Myers’ case is pending with the grand jury. If the grand jury does not indict Myers, the assault charge could be dropped.