A California appeals court upheld a ruling requiring the Los Angeles County School District to pay $1 million to former students who endured a prolonged bullying campaign filled with death threats.
On Friday, the El Segundo Unified School District lost its appeal against a 2022 court decision that criticized the district for neglecting to protect Eleri Irons from persistent bullying, which lasted from November 2017 to June 2018.
Now 21, Irons was just 13 years old at El Segundo Middle School when the bullying began.
The district’s appeal raised various points, including arguments that Irons could not substantiate her injuries and that she bore no responsibility for how school personnel dealt with the matter.
Additionally, the district’s lawyers referenced a state code that shields public employees from civil liability.
According to Irons’ 2019 lawsuit, she experienced PTSD and often sought refuge in the nurse’s office during lunch breaks.
The bullying reportedly escalated after the end of her friendship with two classmates, which complicated issues among them.
Irons recounted harsh verbal attacks, and physical confrontations, remarking on the pain of being targeted by peers.
The harassment was so severe that it inspired a petition titled “Eleri Irons’ life,” as described by her attorney.
Attorney Christa Lammy emphasized that the ruling validated earlier findings that the school failed to protect Irons.
She criticized the district for opting to fight against the ruling instead of supporting the recovery of a young woman who had already endured a traumatic experience.
The escalation of the situation first came to light when a teacher learned about the petition but failed to act.
Irons’ parents also raised concerns with the school principal, but their reports of bullying were brushed aside.
Despite being aware of the hostile environment, school staff did not take effective steps to address the situation or adhere to their own anti-bullying policies.
School officials dismissed the bullying as mere teenage drama, even with reports that the district couldn’t ensure the safety of Irons from her aggressors.
While the district initially suggested it would “do the right thing” following the 2022 verdict, there has been no public statement regarding the Court of Appeals’ decision.
In a 2018 interview, Irons expressed a desire to forgive her bullies, reflecting on the friendship they once shared. “I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt,” she said, acknowledging that they, too, needed intervention the school failed to provide.
