![Tom[1]](/images/Tom[1].png)
MJC partner and special education attorney Tom Blessing filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana last month on behalf of the parents of a 14-year-old special needs student who was being bullied at school. The lawsuit was filed against the Franklin Community School Corporation and accuses them of failing to stop the bullying.
When our clients first brought their concerns about bullying to the attention of the school, they were told they were “overreacting.” In fact, the school suggested that our clients’ child should instead attend school for half-days or be homeschooled.
Speaking about how the bullying was handled by the school and why they filed the lawsuit, our client had the following to say, “I would say both of us just feel defeated, truly uncared for, and unsafe. This is, for us, being a voice for those who may not have a voice or don’t know where to turn and how to handle stuff like this.”
Unfortunately, the bullying continued and our clients’ child attempted suicide in 2017 and 2018. According to her mother, “Her reasoning when she came to it was to get the bullies out of her head.”
Although the school claims that this was all a “peer-conflict,” we intend to use our full resources to prove that is was, in fact, the result of repeated bullying that the school failed to adequately address. Hopefully, more accountability will come from this and the school will change its processes and policies for handling bullying.
To find out more about this lawsuit, click here.
Do you need help resolving a legal matter? Then contact Massillamany Jeter & Carson LLP to speak with one of our lawyers about your case. Call (317) 434-1490 to request your free consultation.
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