The family of a middle school student in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System has filed suit against the district, alleging that school officials failed in their obligation to protect the student from repeated bullying and physical attack.
An amended complaint was filed in the 19th Judicial District Court last month on behalf of parent Dikishia Viges and a minor child identified only as Jane Doe. The lawsuit is one of three bullying-related complaints filed by Baton Rouge attorney Ryan Thompson, including one brought by the family of student Traeh Thyssen, who took his own life.
The complaint involving Jane Doe focuses on a Westdale Middle School attack that occurred in November 2019, six weeks after the death of Traeh Thyssen. The third case involves a special-needs student.
“The state does have a bullying statute, and what we’re alleging is that (the law) lays out a duty for all school districts,” Thompson told the Louisiana Record. “And we believe, based on the knowledge and information that we have, that they’re in breach of the statute.”
The Jane Doe complaint seeks damages based on school officials’ alleged failure to protect students from bullying and other forms of emotional and physical abuse while they were under the school system’s care.
“Upon arriving at school, Jane Doe exited the school bus and was ambushed by hooded students … who were hiding out in the campus bathroom,” the lawsuit states. “Jane Doe was beaten so brutally that her head would require staples to close the laceration.”
The complaint accuses two students and the mother of a student of taking part in the attacks on the victim that day.
Since information about bullying incidents has been publicized in the media, Thompson has received overwhelming support from community members, he said.
“The supporters have said that the problem is bigger than what anyone knows,” Thompson said.
The school system failed to train new and current faculty and staff about bullying behaviors, intervention procedures and information on suicide prevention, according to the lawsuit.
“Jane Doe continues to suffer from trauma-related migraines and panic attacks,” the complaint says. “Additionally, Jane is receiving ongoing psychological therapy for the mental and emotional anguish, anxiety and post-traumatic stress related to the bullying and battery incident.”
The family is seeking compensation for loss of love and affection, medical costs, loss of current and future income, as well as other damages the lawsuit alleges resulted from the defendants’ negligence.