Lawsuit Filed Against CT School System For Allowing Bullying To Persist For Months Against 8th-Grade Girl
Granby Memorial High School, a feeder school for Granby Memorial Middle School where the alleged bullying took place; via Wikipedia.
The Hartford Courant reported recently per Yahoo! News that a Connecticut mother has filed a lawsuit claiming the Granby school system failed to protect her daughter from months of sexual harassment and threats by classmates during her eighth-grade year. The complaint, filed in Hartford Superior Court, alleges that administrators did little to stop the abuse and later retaliated after the family contacted police.
The lawsuit claims that harassment by a male student and his friends persisted for eight months without meaningful disciplinary action or intervention. The girl’s mother ultimately withdrew her daughter from Granby Memorial Middle School and enrolled her in a private school. The legal action names both the Granby school district and the town as defendants.
According to the complaint, the harassment began early in the 2023–24 school year when the 12-year-old student reported being threatened with physical and sexual assault by a boy and his friends. Her parents promptly met with newly appointed Principal Heather Tanis and interim administrator Peter Bogen and submitted a formal “Report of Suspected Bullying or Teen Dating Violence.” Bogen investigated and created a safety plan stating that staff would ensure the girl was not placed in classes with the boy or his associates.
However, months later the boy and his friends allegedly cornered the girl in the cafeteria, making sexual and threatening remarks that caused her to flee. Despite her family’s repeated complaints, administrators allegedly failed to enforce the safety plan. A substitute teacher later sent her into a classroom with the same boy, who glared at her menacingly. When her father complained, Assistant Principal Alex Schwartz reportedly said substitutes are not informed about student safety plans.
The pattern allegedly continued at an eighth-grade town-sponsored dance, where the boy and his friends surrounded the girl, hurling racial and sexual insults. Although chaperones intervened, the harassment continued as she left the event. A youth services coordinator later informed parents that the school was “addressing the incident.”
The girl’s mother says Principal Tanis initially agreed to partner with police but later refused to discuss the incident because it occurred off school grounds. When police questioned administrators, Tanis reportedly told officers that the boys denied any wrongdoing. The lawsuit claims police closed the case because the school conducted its own internal investigation instead of cooperating fully. Superintendent Cheri Burke later stated that administrators could not act since police had become involved.
The complaint further accuses the district of retaliation and failing to maintain proper records of bullying reports. It also claims administrators were aware of the boy’s disciplinary history yet failed to protect the girl from foreseeable harm. The lawsuit seeks unspecified financial damages for emotional and psychological distress caused by the school’s negligence.
From the perspective of DASA (Dignity for All Students Act) training in New York State and best practices in bullying prevention, this case illustrates several apparent breakdowns. When a student reports sustained harassment, administrators must ensure that every staff member, including substitutes, is informed of relevant safety measures. Schools have a legal and ethical duty to document every reported incident, coordinate with law enforcement when appropriate, and prioritize the student’s emotional safety over procedural confusion. The alleged failures to enforce the safety plan, to notify all staff, and to protect the student from ongoing exposure to her aggressors run counter to DASA’s principles of transparency, accountability, and student-centered intervention.
Attorney Adam T. Mandell, who has completed DASA training, notes that such cases often hinge on what the school did not document or follow up on rather than the severity of the initial bullying. When schools fail to take immediate and coordinated action, they risk re-traumatizing students and exposing themselves to significant legal liability.
If Your Child Is Being Bullied, We’re Here to Help
If your child has experienced bullying, hazing, or sexual harassment at school, you may have legal options. At Legal Ally, attorney Adam T. Mandell brings over 15 years of experience defending school districts. That background gives him a powerful advantage when fighting for the rights of students and families now. Whether the abuse happened in New York or elsewhere, Legal Ally is here to help. Contact us today for a confidential case review. Legal Ally represents school bullying victims in New York State. If the incident happened in another state, Legal Ally may help refer you to an experienced, skilled anti-bullying attorney in that state.
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