Incessant bullying led to the 15-year-old boy’s death, alleges lawsuit.
By Raif Karerat
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WASHINGTON, DC: The parents of a 15-year-old boy who committed suicide two years ago have filed a lawsuit against the schools and town government of Greenwich, Connecticut, claiming local officials failed to adequately address the years of bullying their son suffered.
Anna Izabela and Franciszek Palosz have accused school officials of failing to follow mandatory anti-bullying policies that would have protected their son, Bartlomiej “Bart†Palosz.
They say officials didn’t investigate the bullying or discipline the bullies, and consequently filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Wednesday in Stamford Superior Court.
Palosz attempted suicide in June 2013 by swallowing pills, but returned to school the first day of August – only to kill himself that day with one of his father’s hunting rifles, according to the Associated Press.
As WCBS 880’s disclosed, court papers showed it was well-documented by teachers, school social workers, and administrators that Bart Palosz endured constant and severe bullying during his time at Western Middle School and Greenwich High School.
School records prove that Bart endured name-calling and teasing, repeated incidents of property theft and hitting and kicking from classmates, and even a physical assault with a locker that required stitches, reported the Greenwich Time.
“I wanted to make you aware that Bart was pretty severely bullied in middle school,†his guidance counselor wrote in a November 2012 email to Bart’s classroom teachers when he was in ninth grade, another new revelation contained in the lawsuit. “He would not report any of the incidents to the school, so the only way it was brought to light was if it was observed or if he told at home.â€
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages in excess of 15,000, the threshold for filing in the court, according to the Greenwich Time.
“We feel this lawsuit is important so that other students in Greenwich don’t suffer the same kind of treatment that Bart did,†the Palosz family said in a statement. “It is our hope that this lawsuit will result in changes to how the Greenwich school system responds to students in need of help so that there will be no more needless deaths.â€