Bullying - an epidemic - going after the bullies legally

We are currently dealing with a very serious case of school bullying. It lasted three years, the teachers, the administration and the school safety officer all knew about it and chose not to help the victim, my client. Their thinking was old fashioned, considered in the best light - telling him to "suck it up" and "get tougher". Finally, after two kids put his head through a bathroom stall door and he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance for the third time in three years, the school safety officer admitted they couldn't or wouldn't keep him safe. We had to take him out of the school for good. We are now preparing a lawsuit against the school district.

If you, or anyone you know, has been the victim of bullying, please contact me right away - rlvogel@robertvogellaw.com, The Vogel Law Firm, or call 865-385-4315.

What is bullying?:        Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

• An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

Source: http://www.stopbullying.gov/