Bullying and Abuse

Bullying is a common problem that affects many school children and should never be taken lightly. It can sometimes cause devastating effects on children who fall victim to it. Schools and teachers who fail to act on substantiated cases of bullying on school property could also get into serious legal trouble. Cyberbullying through the use of various communication technologies is sometimes used to humiliate or taunt individuals, often magnifying an already painful experience. Should you suspect that your child is a victim of bullying, please reach out to the law firm of Ramey Law, P.C., for legal guidance. There are things you can do to ensure that it stops and never happens again.

Warning Signs Of School Bullying

There are many forms of bullying. The legal definition of bullying is physical, mental or verbal acts that are committed with the intent of intimidating, harassing or causing harm to another. Listed below are warning signs that could mean your child is a bullying victim:

• Your child comes home from school with unexplained bruises, cuts or bumps.
• Your child keeps to himself or herself most of the time, both in school and at home, and appears not to have a lot of friends.
• Your child no longer likes school as much as he or she once did.
• Your child starts missing school more and often asks to stay home.
• Your child starts performing poorly in school.
• Your child is depressed, sad or moody most of the time.
• Your child begins to suffer from low self-esteem.
• There is an increased change in your child’s eating habits.
• Your child changes the route to school, even preferring a longer route.
• Your child complains of physical pain such as backaches, stomachaches and headaches.
• Your child has trouble falling asleep and often has recurring nightmares.

Don’t wait another minute if your child has been bullied. Our experienced lawyers in Orange County are knowledgeable about the laws and can strive to strategize a sound case for you.

How You Can Act

Fortunately, you can prevent or stop school bullying by taking some steps. Legally, all schools are required to do everything in their power to help stop or prevent any bullying known to them. If a school is found to have ignored or done little to stop or prevent bullying, they can become legally answerable.

If you find that your child is or has been a victim of bullying, here are things you can do to solve this issue:

• Be a good listener. One important thing you can do is to talk to your child every day. Make it a habit of asking how their day at school was and other school-related questions. Getting a child to open up over an issue such as bullying is often a challenge, so you must learn to be a good listener.
• File a complaint with the school. The next thing to do is to complain to the class teacher or the principal about the issue and everything you know about it. It is best to have the complaint in writing, complete with dates and detailed descriptions of incidents.
• Keep a record of accounts. It is important to keep a detailed record of all incidents and any responses you receive from the school. Include your child’s statements and those of any witnesses.
• Talk to the school’s counselor. If your child’s school has a guidance counselor, ask for a meeting and include your child.
• Code of conduct. Check the school code of conduct to see if the school has done what it should to prevent school bullying.
• Seek legal advice. If you have done all the above and the bullying persists, then it is time to consult with an attorney. A lawyer can help you and your child pursue legal claims against parents and/or the school if it has not done enough to prevent this issue.

Take Legal Action Today, Contact Our Firm

When your child is hurting, you hurt. Explore your legal options. Call 310-773-5509 or contact us via email to schedule a consultation in Los Angeles with our compassionate yet aggressive legal team.