‘Relentless’ bullying, video of attack spark lawsuit against Oregon district, family says

A family is suing an Oregon school district after they say their child was bullied at school and online, and district officials didn’t do enough to stop it.

The student, who has a learning disability attended Centennial Middle School in Portland, was subjected to “relentless” bullying, and a video of her being attacked by another student was posted online, her aunt, Emily James, told McClatchy News.

James’s niece, who is now 13, is currently being homeschooled and is sometimes afraid to leave the house, James said. She recently had to go to a hospital for a mental health crisis, her aunt said.

Officials at Centennial School District did little to stop the bullying, which began in 2021, she said.

“There’s a no tolerance policy, but you’re tolerating it,” she said of school officials.

A spokesman for Centennial School District said in a statement that the district was aware of the lawsuit filed March 23 in Multnomah County but could not provide any further details because it involves a minor.

“Centennial School District remains focused on the academic and social well-being of all students and is committed to ensuring they have a safe and secure learning environment,” the statement says.

Attacks caught on video

James’s niece, who wished to remain anonymous, was first attacked at school on Oct. 1, 2021, by a male student who slammed her into a wall while she was walking to class and broke her wrist, the lawsuit says.

School administrators contacted the parents of the students involved, and the injured student’s mother filed a report with the school district and the police department, according to the lawsuit.

“School officials took no further corrective or preventive action,” the lawsuit says.

On Jan. 12, 2022, James’s niece was attacked by a female student who pulled her to the ground by her hair and “repeatedly” punched her in the head and face, according to the lawsuit. Another student recorded the attack and posted the video on social media.

James’s niece went to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with “post-concussive syndrome,” the lawsuit says.

Her mother filed a report with the school and the local police department, the lawsuit says.

School officials “did nothing meaningful” to ensure the safety of James’s niece or facilitate her transfer to a different school, the lawsuit says.

The student’s mother later took evidence of cyberbullying, including online messages and texts, to the principal of the middle school, the lawsuit says.

On Jan. 26, 2022, she contacted the principal about a voice message her daughter received from the girl accused of attacking her that said, “It’s going to be 10,000 times worse (expletive). Your head will (expletive) split open and you will (expletive) die,” the lawsuit says.

The principal suspended the accused attacker for four to six days, the lawsuit says.

Administrators created a safety plan on Feb. 2, 2022, after the victim’s mother obtained an attorney, but the plan was “woefully deficient,” the lawsuit says.

Per a policy posted online for Centennial School District, “principals and the superintendent have responsibility for investigations concerning hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying and/or menacing. The investigator(s) shall be a neutral party having had no involvement in the complaint presented.”

The bullying and cyberbullying continued until James said her niece was forced to change schools. But after a few months at a new school, students there started to see social media videos of the attack at the former school and approach James’s niece about it, she said.

A little over a month ago, her niece decided to be homeschooled, James said.

“She’s legitimately afraid to get jumped,” James said. “The fear is still very valid and very real.”

’Things need to change’

James said she feels the school district failed to provide a safe space for her niece.

“Things need to change,” she said.

District officials did not expel the students accused of attacking James’s niece, failed to take the threats against her seriously and “failed to adequately supervise and ensure (her) safety while on school property,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit accuses the school district of negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The family is seeking compensation for medical expenses, as well as non-economic damages, including “mental anguish,” “loss of confidence and self-esteem” and “increased angst and worry over future escalations…,” the lawsuit says.

James said she and her family also hope the school district will change its policies to better protect students in the future.

“I also want to see changes and policies changed at that school so it doesn’t continue to happen to other children,” James said.

This story was originally published April 3, 2023 at 1:38 PM with the headline "‘Relentless’ bullying, video of attack spark lawsuit against Oregon district, family says."