Daniel Boone Area Intermediate Center
PHILADELPHIA – Parents of a fourth-grade boy who committed suicide after being bullied can’t blame a Pennsylvania school district, a federal judge has ruled.
Philadelphia judge Catherine Henry last month granted the motions to dismiss of the Daniel Boone Area School District and the Amity Township Police Department in a lawsuit brought by David and Michele Young, the parents of the late Roman Young.
Their lawsuit said Daniel Boone Area Intermediate Center employees witnessed Roman being bullied at the start of the 2022 school year and failed to provide him with an environment free from harassment.
The suit said Roman saw the school nurse and a guidance counselor while in a suicidal state, but these officials did not ensure Roman was safe from self-harm – and that on Sept. 9, 2022, the boy took his own life by gunshot to the head.
After Roman’s death, his parents maintained that school and local law enforcement officials failed to cooperate with their inquest for answers and evidence. They pursued their case under a “state-created danger” theory, but much of their argument was taken away by a previous ruling that resulted in a new complaint.
One claim had potential, Henry had ruled: Possible misinformation the day before Roman’s death. It was alleged someone at the school called Michele to tell her Roman had “gotten sick” at lunch without mentioning his mental state or the bullying.
“The question is whether something about the misrepresentation made to Roman’s parents worsened the risk of Roman’s death, whether it changed the status quo,” Henry wrote Feb. 25.
“As I noted previously, nothing was alleged about whether the caller indicated (through words or otherwise) that there was nothing to worry about, rather than failing to indicate that there were behaviors to worry about.
“Similarly, nothing was alleged about whether Roman’s parents were otherwise aware of his being bullied or severely troubled—if, for instance, they had plans to more closely supervise Roman or get him treatment, but then canceled those plans relying on the misrepresentation.”
And the amended complaint did not support the Youngs’ allegations, Henry ruled. At best, they can allege that if they had been aware of Roman’s mental state, they would have put him in psychiatric care, the judge said.
“I do not doubt it, and I am confident all wish that had happened,” Henry wrote.
“The question is not of what the Youngs would have done with the information but of whether the school is liable for failing to provide it. Under the law as I read it now and have previously explained it, it is not enough to carry this claim.”
Claims against Amity police for failing to reveal evidence Roman was bullied also failed.
