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A look inside the new One World Observatory

One of McCathern’s longtime clients, Legends, is now operating the One World Observatory in New York City. The observatory spans the top three floors of One World Trade Center and allows tourists to view the entire city and catch up on a little history. Link to video Three to four million people are expected to come […]

Wave Of Construction Defect Law Reform May Continue

A wave of construction defect law reform efforts has swept several states this year, driven by builder lobbying and court systems struggling under the stream of litigation from these laws. And the reform momentum may spread further as residential development kicks into high gear across the country, experts say. In the past six months, at […]

McCathern to Sponsor West Coast Casualty’s 2015 Construction Defect Seminar

McCathern is pleased to support West Coast Casualty’s 2015 Construction Defect Seminar as a contributing sponsor Los Angeles, CA – McCathern is pleased to announce its gold sponsorship of West Coast Casualty’s 2015 Construction Defect Seminar. This is the 22nd anniversary of the seminar, which will be held May 14-15, 2015 at the Disneyland Hotel […]

McCathern is Proud to be a Platinum Level Sponsor of Judge Phyllis Lister Brown’s Campaign

We snapped this photo at last night’s campaign reception for Judge Phyllis Lister Brown, 162nd Civil District Court. McCathern was thrilled to be a Platinum sponsor and we had a great time showing our support!

The No-Comfort Zone

McCathern business lawyer Jesse Hoffman likes to tackle questions that haven’t already been answered. PUBLISHED IN: 2015 TEXAS RISING STARS — APRIL 2015 – By: Beth Taylor Q: You went to the state AG’s Office straight from law school. Any surprises? A: Everything. Law school teaches you a lot about how to think like a […]

Dallas-based Law Firm McCathern, PLLC Celebrates One Year Anniversary of Opening Los Angeles Office

McCathern Los Angeles opened last spring to strengthen the firm’s influence in California and its relationship with clients across the nation. Litigation attorneys and staff celebrated this milestone and look forward to continued success. Law firm McCathern, PLLC is thrilled to celebrate the one-year anniversary of opening its Los Angeles, California location, which opened last spring upon […]

McCathern PLLC Wins Summary Judgment in Complex ERISA Dispute

Carl L. Evans, Jr. and Jesse Hoffman reached a successful outcome for the case of McCraw v Midlands Claim Administrators Inc, et al The plaintiff sued the administrator, a McCathern client, of his Long Term Disability Plan and sought damages of half a million dollars for the denial of his claim under the plan. The plaintiff raised […]

Two McCathern Attorneys Named 2015 Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine

Partners Arnold Shokouhi and Gregory A. Kline represent the excellence of McCathern’s diverse practice areas and are deservedly recognized for D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas 2015 honor. Congratulations to McCathern Dallas Partners Arnold Shokouhi and Gregory A. Kline on being selected to D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas 2015 list. An elite group of […]

McCathern Supports the 2015 One Mission Buzz Off for Kids with Cancer for the Second Year in a Row

McCathern, PLLC will participate in the One Mission Buzz Off for Kids with Cancer and make a BALD statement against pediatric cancer. On Sunday, April 26, Matthew S. Muckleroy, Ramez F. Shamieh, and Daleroy Stewart of McCathern, PLLC will make a BALD statement against pediatric cancer by participating in the One Mission Buzz Off for […]

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones testifies in Super Bowl XLV seating trial

DallasNews.com By Jeff Mosier / 10 March 2015 3:23 PM Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones departs the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse with Partner, Levi McCathern after testifying in the 2011 Super Bowl seating trial on Tuesday (Smiley N. Pool/Staff photographer) Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has arrived at the federal courthouse in Dallas to […]

PROSPER ISD PARENTS QUESTION DISTRICT RESPONSE TO BUS DRIVER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STUDENTS

December 15, 2025

Author: Rebecca Lopez with WFAA Watch the interview here. PROSPER, Texas — Parents of two young girls who say they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Prosper ISD school bus driver are speaking out about what they describe as serious failures by the district — including delayed notification to families and promised safety changes they say were never fully implemented. The parents asked that they not be identified to protect their children, who were just elementary school age at the time of the abuse. In a lawsuit filed in 2023, the girls — identified only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — allege former bus driver Frank Paniagua assaulted them repeatedly during the 2021–2022 school year. According to the lawsuit, Paniagua would wait until other students exited the bus, then assault the girls, sometimes holding one child back so he could take her to the rear of the bus. Attorneys say the abuse occurred over several months and was captured on bus surveillance video. How the abuse was discovered The girls’ mother said the abuse came to light after their grandmother noticed troubling comments about gift cards offered by the bus driver. When the mother later questioned the girls again, they disclosed what had been happening. Prosper ISD police reviewed surveillance video from the bus in May 2022. Paniagua was arrested two days later and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and indecency with a child. Paniagua later died after jumping from the second floor of the Collin County Jail while awaiting trial. Concerns about delayed notifications Attorneys for the family say more than 100 days passed after Paniagua’s arrest before Prosper ISD publicly acknowledged the allegations — a delay parents say may have prevented other potential victims from being identified. At a packed school board meeting, Prosper ISD parent Morgan Grahovec, a child psychologist whose daughter attended the same school as the victims, told trustees that delays in notifying parents can have serious consequences. “Children who are victims of abuse need to be identified and interviewed as soon as possible because memory fades over time,” Grahovec said. “The longer you wait, it’s harder to get a child to report abuse accurately.” Parents at those meetings called for Superintendent Holly Ferguson’s resignation, arguing district leaders should have acted sooner and communicated more transparently. Ferguson did not step down, instead promising changes to safety protocols. District response and former statement In an earlier written statement to WFAA, Prosper ISD said it took appropriate action once allegations surfaced: “We are horrified that an employee violated the trust of our families and students, as Prosper ISD’s foremost priority is to protect our students’ safety and well-being at all times. We strongly condemn the actions of any adult who would cause mental or physical harm to a child, and we do not tolerate such behavior.” The district has declined additional comment, citing pending litigation. Disputed claims about safety changes Prosper ISD previously told parents it would implement additional safeguards, including increased supervision during bus drop-offs, a volunteer “bus buddy” program, and improved monitoring of bus surveillance video. But the parents and their attorneys say those changes were not consistently put in place. Attorney Levi McCathern says the district does not regularly review bus surveillance footage — even though video captured the alleged abuse in this case. “You would think the first thing you would do after this happens is change your monitoring program,” McCathern said. “They don’t monitor them at all.” McCathern and co-counsel Kristin Hecker say the lawsuit is aimed at forcing policy changes rather than seeking financial gain. Questions about oversight and leadership The case has also raised broader concerns about district leadership and oversight. Prosper ISD’s school board president later resigned in an unrelated child abuse case, further shaking confidence among some parents. Families have also questioned the independence of the district’s internal review, noting that the law firm hired to investigate the district’s response is also defending Prosper ISD in the lawsuit. “All we want is an independent investigation,” McCathern said. Parents push for accountability and change The parents say their children remain enrolled in Prosper ISD, but they continue to press for reforms they believe could prevent similar abuse. “We want justice for our kids,” the girls’ mother said. “But we also want changes to happen at the district so that this doesn’t happen to other children.”

Author: McCathern Law