Parents of Bullied Trans Teen Who Died by Suicide Sue Alabama School District
Coffee County Courthouse in Elba, Alabama; via Wikipedia.
The parents of a transgender teenager who died by suicide after enduring years of bullying have filed a federal lawsuit against an Alabama school district, accusing it of ignoring repeated cries for help and failing to protect their child, The Advocate reported last week.
Carmeisha and Cory Williams filed the lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama against the Elba City Board of Education and two former principals of Elba High School. Their child, referred to as S.W. in the filing, came out as gay and gender-neutral in seventh grade, later asking to be called Shane and to use they/them pronouns.
According to the lawsuit, S.W. had been bullied for being mixed-race since elementary school, but harassment intensified after coming out as transgender. Teachers allegedly refused to use S.W.’s preferred name and pronouns, despite there being no school policy preventing it. Both students and teachers are accused of mocking S.W. for their gender identity, clothing, and hairstyle.
From April 4 to April 18, 2023, S.W. was hospitalized for suicidal thoughts linked to bullying by classmates and teachers. The family informed then-principal Wynn Grimes of S.W.’s mental health crisis and asked for intervention, but the lawsuit claims he took no action, failed to provide legally required bullying complaint forms, and did not tell the family such forms existed.
When S.W. returned to school, the cruelty escalated. The lawsuit says students mocked their hospitalization, called them “crazy,” and told them they “should try better next time” to kill themselves. On one occasion, after S.W. vomited from anti-anxiety medication, classmates falsely accused them of being pregnant.
In May 2023, the family tried to transfer S.W. to another district, but Elba officials blocked the move. That summer, a new principal, Warren Weeks, took over. The suit claims the superintendent hired Weeks despite warnings about his alleged history of verbal and physical abuse toward students and staff at a previous school. A guidance counselor who had been a strong supporter of S.W. resigned after his hiring.
On S.W.’s first day back, August 7, 2023, they reported ongoing bullying to Weeks, but the suit alleges he also failed to provide a complaint form. The next day, Weeks allegedly confronted S.W. in front of about 50 students, forcibly removed their hoodie, and exposed their chest and self-harm scars, forcing them to finish the school day in only a small tank top.
On August 9, 2023, S.W. died by suicide at 14 years old, leaving a note referencing the persistent bullying and naming specific students the family had previously reported.
The lawsuit alleges violations of Title IX, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act, as well as constitutional rights to equal protection and due process. It also accuses Weeks of battery and “extreme and outrageous conduct.” The family is seeking punitive and compensatory damages, a jury trial, and court-ordered reforms including anti-bullying policies, staff training, and clear protocols for handling harassment complaints.
“Our Constitution and our laws are not silent about the obligations to children in public schools: they are to be nurtured and protected, not abandoned to cruelty,” a plaintiff’s attorney said in a statement. Another attorney added, “How any responsible school system could put a bully in charge of stopping bullies is beyond me… hopefully they will turn this shameful episode into something that approaches justice for S.W. and their parents.”
Your child deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued every single day they walk into school. No parent should ever have to bury their child because a school looked the other way. If your LGBTQIA+ child is being harassed, ignored, or treated as less than human, you have the power to fight back. Adam T. Mandell of Legal Ally has spent years holding school districts accountable, forcing them to answer for their failures, and securing justice for children whose voices were silenced. Don’t wait until the damage is irreversible. Stand up for your child’s future today,
Contact Adam of Legal Ally today to request a free case review.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 988lifeline.org, reach the Trans Lifeline at (877) 565-8860, or call The Trevor Project Lifeline at (866) 488-7386.
Disclaimer: The above case is not being represented by Legal Ally, but founder Adam refers cases to the top anti-bullying attorneys in the country if you do not live in New York State and need a referral.