Parents sue school, claim bullying led to daughter’s suicide

<p>Parents of a 12-year-old Morris County girl say that her school&rsquo;s lack of action led to her suicide.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jun 19, 2018, 11:42 PM

Updated 2,144 days ago

Share:

Parents of a 12-year-old Morris County girl say that her school’s lack of action led to her suicide.
Mallory Grossman’s parents filed a lawsuit against the school and their community this week and claim that the Rockaway School District let their daughter down.
“We’re here today to announce the filing of a lawsuit one year after the death of Mallory Grossman,” said family attorney Bruce Nagel.
The lawsuit describes bullying Mallory endured by four fellow sixth-graders at Copeland Middle School.
“Instead of removing Mallory from choir class, I wanted the girls that were tapping her chair every other day and calling her a bitch, I wanted those children removed from class. Not Mallory,” Dianne Grossman says.
The lawsuit alleges that the bullies sent Mallory texts and Snapchat photos with messages like "You have no friends," "Fat," "Jiggly,” “Poor Mal” and “When are you going to kill yourself?” The Grossmans say that Mallory told them to stop, but they didn't.
“When these facts were brought to the attention to the school district and the school administrators, those facts were terribly ignored,” Nagel says.
The lawsuit also says school officials suggested Mallory eat lunch in a guidance office instead of the lunchroom to avoid her harassers. She was also forced to hug one of the alleged harassers in an apparent attempt at reconciliation.
The Grossmans say that had the school district taken swift and effective action against the bullying, Mallory would still be alive.
"I want them to care less about test scores and care about the emotional intelligence that our children are experiencing,” Dianne Grossman says.
The family attorney says that they have not brought a lawsuit against the four families whose children allegedly bullied Mallory. But he says that they have been put on notice for possible legal action.
It is the first lawsuit filed in response to a cyberbullying suicide in New Jersey.
News 12 New Jersey reached out to the Rockaway Township School District for comment but has not heard back.


More from News 12
1:44
SUNY Purchase students start pro-Palestinian encampment

SUNY Purchase students start pro-Palestinian encampment

2:22
Partly sunny, light breeze for Friday in the Hudson Valley; afternoon showers for Saturday

Partly sunny, light breeze for Friday in the Hudson Valley; afternoon showers for Saturday

2:48
Pro-Palestinian encampment remains at SUNY New Paltz campus

Pro-Palestinian encampment remains at SUNY New Paltz campus

0:22
Mount Vernon police: No injuries reported following shots fired incident

Mount Vernon police: No injuries reported following shots fired incident

0:32
Rep. Ryan calls for planned Central Hudson rate increase to be denied

Rep. Ryan calls for planned Central Hudson rate increase to be denied

0:21
Yonkers Art unveils 2 new exhibits ahead of weekend festival

Yonkers Art unveils 2 new exhibits ahead of weekend festival

1:26
Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

0:33
Dobbs Ferry man facing federal charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition

Dobbs Ferry man facing federal charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition

1:47
Ex-Monticello officer who admitted to sex assault of underage teen reinstated to department after arrest

Ex-Monticello officer who admitted to sex assault of underage teen reinstated to department after arrest

0:36
Police: Woman arrested in connection to student brawl outside Yonkers school

Police: Woman arrested in connection to student brawl outside Yonkers school

1:44
Poughkeepsie leaders ask public for help to find troubled teens before tragedy strikes

Poughkeepsie leaders ask public for help to find troubled teens before tragedy strikes

1:02
Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for completion of New Rochelle affordable housing development

Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for completion of New Rochelle affordable housing development

0:32
Bedford School District to receive more money aid, boost in funding from state

Bedford School District to receive more money aid, boost in funding from state

0:30
Blooming Grove highway worker seriously injured during tree removal

Blooming Grove highway worker seriously injured during tree removal

0:23
Overnight road work to close Exit 7 on Cross County Parkway in Westchester

Overnight road work to close Exit 7 on Cross County Parkway in Westchester

3:52
I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

News 12 Westchester/Hudson Valley Daily Poll

News 12 Westchester/Hudson Valley Daily Poll

1:44
Exploring the Westchester children's museum: A journey of play and discovery

Exploring the Westchester children's museum: A journey of play and discovery

1:53
Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

3:52
I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire