Two parents filed a lawsuit against a Florida school district last week, two years after their 10-year-old son died by suicide.
Marion County student Louis Johnson reportedly shot himself in April 2023. Johnson’s mother and father have accused Dawn White, a fifth-grade teacher at Legacy Elementary in Ocala, of bullying their son and encouraging other students to do the same, according to WCJB.
The lawsuit stated that White called Johnson “stupid” and said he “didn’t know anything.” White was also accused of tormenting and embarrassing several other students in the same manner.
Johnson’s parents claimed they reported White to the school board — who failed to act until months after Johnson’s suicide. In June 2023, the school board determined it would not renew White’s contract, finding multiple instances in which she publicly shamed students for their grades.
Johnson’s parents alleged that White’s actions led to their son’s mounting anxiety and depression which ended with his suicide. The lawsuit stated that White continued to bully Johnson for three to four months after his parents went to the school board.
According to Law & Crime, Johnson’s parents have accused the school board of negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and negligent supervision. Their lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
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