The mother of a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly bullied by other students at Ramblewood Middle School has filed a Coral Springs personal injury lawsuit on her daughter’s behalf against the Broward County School District. Randi Vanderheyden claims that school officials not only failed to give the adolescent a safe school environment but also, faculty did not take action to stop young Breann from being bullied.
Breann contends that she was verbally abused, targeted with racial slurs, and physically assaulted for months. Her mom complained to the Broward County school superintended but, rather than help the girl, Vanderheyden says the principal blamed her daughter. Breann says that she attempted to kill herself because she couldn’t stand being bullied. Her mother found her in time and took her to a hospital.
The Broward County personal injury complaint claims that Breann suffered as a result of the hate crimes, discrimination, harassment, and bullying. She is now in therapy and continuing her studies through the Internet.
Breann’s family is seeking unspecified damages for psychological injuries, emotional injuries, and ongoing medical bills.
Bullying
Unfortunately, bullying is a problem that continues to plague many students in the US. School officials and teachers know this and it is their responsibility to provide a safe environment and address any allegations of bullying, which can cause severe distress and emotional and psychological injuries to those that are targeted. Florida even has the “Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act,” which mandates that all schools implement an anti-bullying policy. The law is named after a teenager who killed himself because he was constantly bullied and school officials did nothing to stop the incidents from continuing.
MOM SUES OVER SCHOOL BULLYING, South Florida Times, November 16, 2011
Alleged bullying victim files suit against school district, WSVN.com, November 22, 2011
Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act
More Blog Posts:
$1.8M Miami-Dade Wrongful Death Settlement Reached in Coral Gables High School Student’s Fatal Stabbing, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, November 18, 2011
Child Sex Abuse Scandal Rocks Penn State and Leads to Ousting of Legendary State football coach Joe Paterno, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, November 9, 2011
St. Lucie County Personal Injury Lawsuit: Teacher Accused of Florida Sex Abuse, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, October 4, 2011