The family of a 12-year-old disabled student who committed suicide in 2024 has filed a federal lawsuit claiming his death resulted from the Lebanon School District’s failure to respond to reports that he was being bullied.
A civil complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Harrisburg on Feb. 25 alleges that Yadriel Rivera Jusino, who was dyslexic, was subjected to repeated in-school bullying by fellow Lebanon Middle School students because of his disability and his “Latino descent.”
Yadriel, who was born on July 21, 2011, hanged himself on June 3, 2024, according to the complaint.
The complaint names the district as a defendant along with middle school principal Nicholas Bullock, assistant principal Daniel Rau, school counselor Emily Emerich, and two unnamed “John Doe” defendants described as a counselor and a social worker.
In addition to legal claims under Pennsylvania wrongful death and survival laws, the lawsuit says the district is responsible for Yadriel’s death because it violated federal civil rights laws “by failing to protect Decedent from discriminatory bullying that led to Yadriel’s suicide.”
The complaint alleges that district personnel received repeated reports from Yadriel, his sister, and his stepfather that Yadriel was being bullied and physically abused in school. One of those reports, from September 2022, is documented in district records, excerpts of which are included in the complaint.
Nevertheless, Yadriel’s family claims the district failed to adequately investigate and try to stop the bullying, causing his suicide.
The school district and its employee defendants have yet to file a formal response with the court, but superintendent Nicole Malinoski released a statement on Feb. 26:
“The loss of a student is always heartbreaking, and our thoughts remain with the student’s family, friends, and all who were affected by this tragedy. The death of a young person has a profound impact on a school community, and we recognize the deep grief such a loss causes.
The District is aware of the lawsuit that has been filed and we strongly deny the allegations contained in the complaint. Because this is an active legal matter, the District will not provide further comment. We will continue to respect the legal process while remaining focused on supporting our students and staff.”
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