Eight Lawsuits filed in A Kentucky School District for Bullying!

Louisville students allege bullying at school

Another lawsuit was filed on behalf of a middle school child who was bullied. According to the child's mother did not act upon her grievances. The child made known to family members that he was suicidal.  The main complaint among others is yelling gay slurs and  teasing regarding the child's affected voice.[the way he talked]  But this is not the only complaint filed against the Jefferson County [Kentucky] School District, actually there have been a total of 8 lawsuits and possibly climbing.  It seems there is a constant pervasive bullying theme regarding sexual orientation, or at least perceived sexual orientation in that district.  Gay slurs are abundant.  In the District a child was even sexually assaulted on the school bus.  The consensus: if the school is not going to do anything about these problems then the only solution is a lawsuit.

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BRETT BARROUQUERE, Associated PressCopyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

BRETT BARROUQUERE, Associated PressUpdated 10:16 a.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Louisville, KY (AP- the mother of a middle school student claims in a lawsuit that her son was bullied by other students because he was interested in cheerleading and said school officicials did not thing to protect her son. Bekisia Cosby said Tuesday her son did not want to go back to school and contemplated suicide aftr being bullied at Thomas Jefferson MIddle School in Louisville during the last school year. The middle schooler's mom filed a lawsuit against the School and District because of the lack of repsonse from the school. 

They've done nothing. A lot of promises weren't kept. This has just gone too far," said Cosby, whose lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Ben Jackey, a spokesman for Jefferson County Public Schools, said the district does not comment on pending litigation.

Kentucky bars bullying in schools and requires school employees to report it to the principal within 48 hours, who is in turn required to file a written report with the local board of education and either police or the commonwealth's attorney, which investigate the allegation. The principal is also required to notify the parents or guardians of the student.

Another similar lawsuit brings the number to eight complaints filed against Jefferson County Public Schools in the last year.

"We're asking for justice in a court of law because we're not getting it" with the school system, said attorney Teddy Gordon, who represents the families in the eight lawsuits.

In the two recent cases against Jefferson County, the students alleged that they were subjected to homophobic slurs. The other six suits also involve allegations of bullying or harassment at schools in the county. One case has been set for trial in January.

Tara Hunt, the mother of another student involved in the lawsuits, said her son was mocked because of the way he speaks.

"They called him gay," Hunt said. "He just wants to hurt himself."

Crystal Bennett, whose daughter went to Lassiter Middle School in Louisville, also sued Tuesday, claiming six students harassed and sexually assaulted her child on a school bus last year. The students were suspended, but allowed to return to classes with her daughter after two weeks, said Bennett, whose daughter will attend Noe Middle School this year.

"I send my child to school ... to get a good education, not to be touched on," Bennett said.

Gordon has repeatedly done legal battle with Jefferson County Public Schools over how students are assigned to schools.

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Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Louisville-students-allege-bullying-at-school-3768878.php#ixzz23FGNfoCN