Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune
A 15-year-old #student at the Latin School of Chicago was “tormented on a regular basis” by students at the prestigious #school until he died by #suicide in January, a lawsuit filed Monday alleges.
The suit, filed by the boy’s #parents, Robert and Rosellene Bronstein, accuses administrators at the #school of “willful failure” to do anything about the #bullying, even though they received numerous complaints from the boy and his family. The complaint, filed in Cook County, names the #school, a number of employees and #parents of the alleged bullies.
Latin, a top-ranked #school that charges more than $40,000 per year in tuition, includes former first lady Nancy Reagan, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan II and other well-known public figures as alums.
In a statement, the #school called the claims unfounded. It said it “deeply grieves” the death of one of its #students, but that it plans to “vigorously defend itself.”
“The allegations of wrongdoing by the #school officials are inaccurate and misplaced,” the statement read. “The school’s faculty and staff are compassionate people who put students’ interests first, as they did in this instance.”
The boy, identified as N.B. in the suit, transferred to Latin from Francis Parker School due to Latin’s in-person learning during the #COVID-19 #pandemic, according to the complaint.
A #student at the #school, whose parents are named in the suit, spread a false rumor that the boy was unvaccinated, the suit alleges. Though he was vaccinated, the boy was harassed about his perceived vaccination status, the suit says. The Bronsteins reached out to the student’s family about the alleged harassment, according to the suit.
The #bullying escalated from there, according to the lawsuit. He was told by a #teacher in front of a class that he was going “nowhere in life,” the suit alleges, and was #cyberbullied in a group text message thread by members of the junior varsity #basketball team and on the #socialmedia app #Snapchat. A #Snapchat message circulated around the #school said of the boy: “Ur a terrible person.”
#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
Celebrating Your Gift of Life:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
On Dec. 13, a #student sent a #Snapchat message to the boy encouraging him to kill himself, the suit alleges.
N.B. then met with a Latin administrator to report the #bullying, the suit says, but the administrator did not discipline any of the #students involved in the #cyberbullying.
Rosellene Bronstein had also been in communication with a #school #counselor about the #bullying, the suit says. At one point, she told the #counselor she believed her son might hurt himself and asked for a recommendation for a #psychiatrist.
Rosellene Bronstein notified #school employees about the #bullying numerous times, but the #school dismissed her concerns as “family issues,” the suit says. In November and October alone, she contacted Latin more than 30 times.
Despite having anti-#bullying policies and a stated “zero tolerance” policy for hate speech, #school administrators turned a “blind eye” to the “increasingly desperate” pleas for help from the Bronstein family, according to the complaint.
The boy also reported the #bullying to a #school dean about “months long abuse” but was disregarded, the complaint says.
He died Jan. 13.
The suit maintains that Latin violated a state law that requires all Illinois schools to investigate reports of #bullying and notify #parents of #students involved. It also accuses the #school of allowing a culture of #bullying, as documented in an #Instagram account that highlights alleged instances of #bullying, harassment and hate speech. The suit says N.B.’s sister was also #bullied at Latin.
After N.B.’s death, Head of School Randall Dunn and some board members “conspired to withhold all of the above information from law enforcement authorities, from the full Latin Board, from other constituents of Latin and from N.B.’s family,” the suit alleges.
The suit asks for an award of $100,000,000 on multiple counts of the suit. In a news release, the Bronsteins said they plan to share any money from the suit with anti-bullying organizations.
They said they demanded the school commit to an outside investigation, but Latin refused.
“My son was so alone,” Rosellene Bronstein said in the release. “Not only were the administrators who were supposed to protect him ignoring his cries for help, but they had the self-serving gall to try to protect their own reputations after his death rather than just having the decency of being honest with his grieving family. This is a legal and moral failure that has caused us indescribable pain and agony.”
For 24/7 help, call the free and confidential #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
