The bus driver and the bus firm she worked for when involved in a bus-braking incident have been named defendants in a civil suit seeking damages of over $50,000 by the parents of two students who were injured.

Rebecca J. Nicholas, 43, 113 Greenwood St., of Coaldale, and Kistler Transportation Inc., of 603 Birch Crossing Road, New Ringgold, are defendants in the suit filed by Edward J. III and Margaret L. Smith, of 424 W. White St., Summit Hill, the parents of Falon L. and Emma J., who were passengers on the Panther Valley School District bus when the incident occurred.The suit states that on March 12, 2015, at 8 a.m., Nicholas was driving school bus No. 13 on West Ludlow Street in Summit Hill and approaching the intersection with South Chestnut Street when she "intentionally, want only, recklessly, and/or negligently applied the brakes of Bus 13 in a very dangerous and forceful manner causing Bus 13 to come to a very abrupt stop and thereby causing students, including Falon and Emma, to be thrown against interior parts of Bus 13 and be injured,"Nicholas was charged by Summit Hill police with 24 counts each of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering and eight counts of simple assault.Police said Nicholas was trying to get the students to quiet down, but they were not cooperating. The bus was transporting the students to the middle school.According to police, 23 students were injured which resulted in them being sent home for the day.Police said many of the students who were injured were treated by the school nurse and released, while others have had to seek out more involved medical treatment.Nicholas waived her right to a preliminary hearing in the case and had all the charges certified to court.She is tentatively scheduled to go on trial on the charges during the April term of criminal court, which begins on April 4.Kistler is named in the suit as the employer of Nicholas.The suit charges that Nicholas had reason to know that by applying the brakes in a very dangerous and forceful manner, she would cause Bus 13 to stop abruptly and cause injuries to the students.Kistler, the suit states, was negligent for "permitting Mrs. Nicholas to operate Bus 13 at the time of the incident; failing to train properly and supervise properly Mrs. Nicholas; for hiring Mrs. Nicholas; and failing to investigate properly Mrs. Nicholas' past employment and driving records."The suit states that both Falon and Emma suffered "serious" injuries to their head, neck and back.It is further alleged that the two minors have had to be "obliged in the future to receive medical care and spend various sums of money for such care."The suit says the two minors suffered "physical pain, mental anguish and loss of life's pleasures, some of which may be permanent."The suit states as a result of the injuries suffered by their children, the Smiths have had out-of-pocket expenses.The suit charges the two defendants are liable for both compensatory and punitive damages.The suit was filed by attorney Armin Feldman of Lehighton.