The Courthouse News Service has reported that an 11-year-old boy that committed suicide had been the victim of school bullying, and his mother has filed a wrongful death lawsuit naming the school district, as well as several school officials, as defendants.
V.M., a single mother of now nine children, filed the suit after her son, Adonis, hung himself from a door in the family home in March 2011. She has claimed in Superior court that Adonis was the unwitting target of school bullies that used racial slurs and physical attacks to hurt him time and time again.
V.M. contends that the boy's school knew of the attacks but failed to do anything to prevent it – and had they had done something to help her boy, he wouldn't have resorted to taking his own life.
Named in the suit are Chula Vista Elementary School District and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Specific staff members named as defendants include the superintendent, principal, a counselor, two teachers and one other.
The lawsuit reads, "Adonis was small for his age, had a disability in the form of a speech impediment, was African-American, was one of 10 children of a single mother, and was poor. Adonis was bullied by other students in his classroom in front of his teacher and he was bullied by other students in the school hallways and grounds. He was bullied due to these personal characteristics, as well as other matters. The bullying that occurred in class and on the school grounds included but is not limited to Adonis being called a 'nigger' and 'broke poor' and assaults and physical attacks. The bullying at school was ongoing, was almost constant, and had been occurring for years before Adonis killed himself."
The onslaught of abuse incurred by Adonis "did not stop until he killed himself" according to V.M.
Anthony Millican, the Chula Vista Elementary School District spokesman, told reporters, "Although we grieve for the loss of life, we are certain that once the evidence is revealed these allegations will be determined to be unfounded."
The lawsuit stated, "The school district and Thurgood Marshall staff knew of the constant bullying suffered by Adonis from the first time he arrived at Thurgood Marshall, both through direct observation and by reports. The school district and Thurgood Marshall staff members who knew of the bullying include, but are not limited to, the above named defendants, the Does 1 to 50, inclusive. Despite this, defendants took insufficient steps to supervise and protect Adonis."
Damages are sought for negligent hiring, training, supervision, direction and retention. Violations of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, the Ralph Act and the Bane Act are also claimed, as well as harassment in an educational institution and the negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Oceanside-based attorney Maurizio Mangini is representing V.M. in the lawsuit.
If you have lost a child, or other family member, due to the negligence of another party, you have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. Contact a personal injury lawyer to represent you.