Federal court rules that schools are not liable for bullying.

[femmocrat]

I just found out about this:


Federal appeals court: Schools aren't liable for bullies
June 5, 2013 5:33 pm
By Rich Lord / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Schools that opt not to expel bullies aren't necessarily liable for their actions thereafter, a divided 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found in a ruling issued today.

The ruling and dissents, which totaled 83 pages, came in the case of Brittany and Emily Morrow versus Blackhawk School District, which was filed in 2010. The Morrow sisters and their parents claimed that another student who relentlessly bullied and assaulted them was suspended, adjudicated delinquent and repeatedly told to have no further contact with them, but was never expelled. They say the behavior continued until the sisters had no choice but to enroll in another school.

The Morrows argued that by failing to expel the bully after she was found delinquent, the school violated their equal protection rights.

The majority judges found that the school didn't create the danger to the Morrows.

More at link: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-west/federal-appeals-court-schools-arent-liable-for-bullies-690436/


The 3rd Circuit covers Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and the Virgin Islands.
Rich Lord: [e-mail]

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Follow-up articles report that local schools have no plans to discontinue anti-bullying policies, however. The decision just places the blame on the bully, not on the district. Schools still have a responsibility to provide a safe learning environment.