Parents of bullied teen file lawsuit against bullies and their parents

[davidn3600]

In response to cruel cyberbullying that has left their 16-year-old daughter feeling humiliated and unable to sleep, a pair of fed-up parents are striking back at the offending classmates in a unique and public way: They're suing all seven of the teens for libel, and all of their parents for negligence.

“We’re being super-aggressive about it, because this behavior really needs to stop,” Tej Paranjpe, the Houston-based attorney for parents Reymundo Esquivel and Shellie Tingle-Esquivel, tells Yahoo Shine. “It’s really an issue of principle.”

Although the Esquivels’ daughter (who is not being named to protect her privacy) has been getting bullied in person by several fellow students at Klein High School in Klein, Texas, for about a year now, the situation really came to a head in recent weeks, according to her mother. That’s when the girl’s photo appeared, along with those of many others (some of whom were topless), on a student-made Instagram page called “2014 Klein Hoes,” which had picked up almost 900 followers during the several weeks it was live.

On Instagram, her daughter's photo in particular, Tingle-Esquivel tells Yahoo Shine, became the target of many “vulgarities” and “explicit sexual comments,” which left the teen “crying and really upset — almost hysterical.” She adds that the whole experience “has affected [her daughter] tremendously,” but she also notes that she's “really impressed and proud” that the girl had the gumption to tell her parents in the first place.

http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/parents-slap-daughter-s-cyberbullies-with-rare-lawsuit-200330554.html

[lpbk2713]

1. Damages should at least allow for moving to another community.

Plus therapeutic counselling and for considerable mental anguish.

Nothing short of a half million IMO.

[okaawhatever]

2. F that. Move the bullies to another community. That's been the reaction for too long. Let's stop

forcing the victims to move and start forcing the bullies to move. I understand what you're saying, but IMHO it's time to force the bullies to answer for their crimes.

[BrotherIvan]

3. How do boys learn to bully?

To all those who cry on every thread where the rhetorical question is asked, "What are we teaching our boys?"

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE FUCKING TEACHING THEM.

We are teaching them to humiliate and shame girls. We are teaching other girls to laugh along or they will be called "bitches" and "feminazis". We are teaching them that it's ok to call females--your classmates and peers--whores (hoes). Look at commercials aimed at teen boys where they look like fat schlubs in chinos but all the girls have to look like supermodels and/or porn stars. We are teaching them that women should be held to a higher standard and therefore any female who doesn't look perfect deserves ridicule and shame.

That's why, even if you haven't done it, or you think your son hasn't done it, or no one you have ever met has done it, it is happening all the fucking time. So we all must speak out and make it stop.

This sick shit has got to stop. Girls and boys are being bullied until they harm themselves. It is ruining people's lives. I applaud these parents for trying to do something. If I had been featured in this instagram, I would be in jail because I would have seriously hurt whomever was behind it.

[polly7]

4. It's not just boys ......

some of the most brutal examples of bullying I've seen have come from girls to other girls, and everything you've said should apply to both.

[BrotherIvan]

5. Here we go again

And my anger is not merely directed at you, but in this case, the comment is downplaying what these boys did. Yes, girls can be vicious. And yes, they should not be allowed to bully either. But posting topless pictures of underage girls and calling them "Hoes" is part of the female-hating culture that is perpetuating sexualized assaults and bullying against girls. If we keep downplaying it or sparing misogynists' feelings, it will continue. "They both do it" is letting them off the hook.

[polly7]

7. Why would you be angry at anyone for pointing this out?

Many times those photos are published and spread by other girls, people who the victims had even considered friends. I'm not downplaying it at all, unless you believe in not punishing ALL of those involved for pushing their peers to suicidal thoughts. It's not a competition ... the victims hurt just as badly no matter who does it.

[BrotherIvan]

8. Why do you feel like you need to?

[polly7]

10. Because it's too big a problem to ignore the fact that

ALL involved need to be aware of the consequences and punished if they do it. A 13 y/o hung herself in a town not far from me, I knew her aunt ... she was bullied mercilessly by (mostly) other girls in her school who called her those same horrible names, posted pictures of her and spread horrible rumours.

[BrotherIvan]

13. You know what? You're right.

I thought you were trying to derail the point as I've seen here so many times. I apologize. That story is awful and I can't imagine what the family must be going through. You're right, bullying is bad whoever does it. I'm so tired of girls and women, including movie stars, stateswomen, brilliant, incredible women and girls just savaged for the way they look. The meanness just shows how horribly sad and lonely that bully is, how black and tortured a heart it must be to bully someone to the point of suicide. I know that males experience it too, but some of the threads I have seen on the internet talking about a woman literally make me want to throw up.

And yes, I do feel that parents need to be held accountable for their children. I think these parents are doing the right thing by naming them in the lawsuit. Many times the parent is the one doing the bullying at home that the child then takes to school.

It's all just too sad.

[polly7]

14. It is very, very sad.

Last edited Sat Jan 25, 2014, 10:46 AM - Edit history (1)

And no need to apologize, it probably did seem like I was trying to derail .... but I really wasn't. Bullying is probably the thing I hate most in this world. I'm so glad these parents are doing what they are, the law doesn't seem to have the ability to protect victims of bullies, maybe the threat of being sued will wake at least some parents up to how serious it all is.

[joeglow3]

15. At my kids school, the girl on girl bullying is terrible

We are lucky that my oldest son's grade (5th) is full of awesome boys. They almost all get along and do just about everything together. The girls, on the other hand, are AWFUL to each other. There have been three girls who have left the school because of the other girls.

[BrotherIvan]

16. That's awful

I wonder what the school can do. Teachers are so limited, it's usually up to the administrators to step in, and if they don't do anything, that behavior continues. Usually the parents of bullies are bullies themselves.

[roguevalley]

17. agreed. I remember Jay-z saying he would probably not use

bitch anymore because he has a daughter. The ass hat was a son and a grandson. Maybe a brother to a sister and husband to a wife. NOW HE CHANGES! Fuck that.

[kairos12]

6. Good for them.

[Xolodno]

9. In the past....

...a bullied teen could rest once they were away from school (assuming the bully or bullies weren't in the neighborhood). Now, they can get home, turn on the PC, iPad, <insert media device>, etc. and BAM! Bullied via the web. There is no safe haven. I hope the parents win this and I hope this picks up traction nationwide. You kid bullies someone and you don't care...guess what...say hello to financial consequences. Better hope you got good insurance coverage...and your rates are about to go up!!!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

11. Intentional infliction of emotional distress too.

That's a tort.
Lots and lots of damages: Medical care, lost productivity, punitive, exemplary.

[distantearlywarning]

12. Excellent!

Good for them. I've been saying for a long time that parents of bullied kids whose adminstrations won't act appropriately to address the problem should start hiring attorneys and suing the living daylights out of the bullies and their parents. People would get sued so fast if it were adults acting this way towards other adults; the remedy shouldn't be any different when the victim is a minor (in fact, they should probably collect extra damages in a civil court).