Many of the potential wrongful death cases we regularly write about involve motor vehicle accidents or other situations in which the negligent actions of another person cause a fatal physical injury directly. Situations such as these are not the only circumstances under which this type of civil lawsuit may be filed however.
Earlier this month a lawsuit was filed in the Western District of Pennsylvania against Slippery Rock Area High School, related to the death of the teen at her own hands. The federal lawsuit claims that actions taken by school personnel were so outrageous that they lead to the 16-year-old girl committing suicide.
In addition to wrongful death, the following allegations against the school district are contained in the complaint:
- Unreasonable search and seizure
- Due process violations
- Deprivation of life
- Assault
- Battery
- Invasion of privacy
- False imprisonment
- Negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress
The incident began the day before the teen's death when fellow students at the school said that the girl had drugs with her on the bus. Upon learning of the accusations the school principle reportedly loudly accused the student of the infraction while escorting her to the nurse's office. It was there that after a quarter of an hour a "drug screen" was allegedly performed on the crying teen. The drug screen involved a strip search.
Despite apparently finding no drugs, the teen was suspended for 10 days "on the basis of drug possession and/or use." The girl's parents claim that the suspension along with the events of that day led their daughter to take her own life. They are seeking punitive damages for her untimely death.
Source: Courthouse News, "Parents Blame School for Their Teen's Suicide," Erin Mcauley, Oct. 11, 2012