What is Bullying?
Bullying is a problem in nearly every school in the U.S.. From taunting on Facebook to physical harassment on the playground, bullying is prevalent in the daily lives of many children.Common forms of bullying include:
- Teasing, name calling
- Making malicious, demeaning or threatening remarks
- Intimidation (physical or verbal)
- Stealing or damaging belongings
Regardless of the type of bullying that occurs, the psychological ramifications can be very serious for victims of chronic bullying. A study by the Harvard Medical School showed that victims of childhood bullying are more likely to develop suicidal thoughts or depression as adults. Although bullying in school is sometimes dismissed as a childhood rite of passage, this behavior carries potential legal consequences. If your child is the victim of bullying in school, consult with the attorneys at Taylor & Ring for a full understanding of your rights.
School Responsibility to Prevent Bullying
Children spend a considerable amount of time at school and have a legal right to be safe in that environment. Teachers, principals and other school administrators are obligated to protect students from injury and provide supervision during the school day.
California has one of the worst records for handling bullying in schools, despite state law that requires the Department of Education to develop model policies for the prevention of bullying. Those policies are available to school districts and authorized for adoption into the school safety plans. Even with policies in place, it is estimated that every seven minutes a child is bullied, and that often occurs on a school playground.
Sometimes the initiation of legal action is what is needed to force school personnel to confront a bullying problem and take effective action. Our experienced California school bullying lawyers understand how bullying can affect a child and provide aggressive legal representation. The Los Angeles trial lawyers at Taylor & Ring will guide you through this difficult time and ensure that justice is obtained against those who failed to protect your child.
Cyber-bullying in California
Parents used to be able to rely on tell-tale physical signs of bullying (torn clothes, a black eye) but cyber-bullying only provides an online trail. Chat rooms, IMs, e-mails and social media web sites are all used to intimidate and harass. Cyber-bullying may include such humiliating actions as:
- Posting embarrassing photos of the victim
- Sending hateful text messages
- Setting up false accounts on Facebook or Twitter
- Maligning the victim in a chat room
Unfortunately cyber bullies have a large arsenal of technology at their disposal to taunt and torture their victims. These activities are more than just kids being kids and can have devastating consequences. Victims of online bullying have rights that can be protected by the experienced California cyber-bullying attorneys at Taylor & Ring.
Depending on the facts of your case, the knowledgeable trial lawyers at Taylor & Ring can suggest potential legal remedies for bullying. Please contact us today to discuss your rights and how to protect your child from bullying.
