Seeking advice on legal steps after daughter’s bullying experience in Baton Rouge charter school

My 13-year-old daughter faced severe bullying at her charter school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, over the last two years. After multiple issues, we moved her to a private school, but it’s been tough. She admitted to wanting to harm herself, and we had to take her to Children’s Hospital for evaluations. The school was not responsive to our concerns and wouldn’t allow us to visit, even after we tried to set up appointments. We’re now seeking some legal advice but aren’t sure where to start. Has anyone here gone through a similar situation? Any advice on the next steps?

I’m so sorry your family went through this. I’d start with sending a demand letter to the school, laying out what you want to avoid filing a lawsuit. This can include things like tuition assistance or changes to their bullying policy.

@Sawyer
Thanks! That’s helpful. Do you think a demand letter needs to be specific, or can it be more general?

@Sawyer
It’s best to be specific about what you’re asking for. Clear demands can often help avoid misunderstandings.

You may want to look into a tort or personal injury attorney. They can help you build a case if it comes to that. Good luck!

Ben said:
You may want to look into a tort or personal injury attorney. They can help you build a case if it comes to that. Good luck!

Thank you! We’ll look into that. I just want to be sure we’re covering everything.

Ben said:
You may want to look into a tort or personal injury attorney. They can help you build a case if it comes to that. Good luck!

Absolutely, they can guide you through the legal specifics and help you understand your options.

For the demand letter, you could ask for reimbursement for private school tuition since the bullying drove her out of the charter school. Also, see if they’re willing to review their policies.

Rio said:
For the demand letter, you could ask for reimbursement for private school tuition since the bullying drove her out of the charter school. Also, see if they’re willing to review their policies.

Good point, I hadn’t thought about the tuition. We’ve been covering it ourselves since the switch.

Rio said:
For the demand letter, you could ask for reimbursement for private school tuition since the bullying drove her out of the charter school. Also, see if they’re willing to review their policies.

Yeah, it’s definitely something to bring up. Schools often take tuition reimbursement seriously if they were at fault.

I’d suggest reaching out to a local education lawyer. They can help draft a strong demand letter and provide guidance if you need to pursue a lawsuit.

Finn said:
I’d suggest reaching out to a local education lawyer. They can help draft a strong demand letter and provide guidance if you need to pursue a lawsuit.

Thanks for the recommendation. We’ll look into finding one in Baton Rouge.

Finn said:
I’d suggest reaching out to a local education lawyer. They can help draft a strong demand letter and provide guidance if you need to pursue a lawsuit.

No problem. An attorney familiar with education law will know the best approach to take.

So sorry your daughter went through this. Definitely follow up with a legal professional and document everything from here on. It will help if you pursue legal action.

Penny said:
So sorry your daughter went through this. Definitely follow up with a legal professional and document everything from here on. It will help if you pursue legal action.

Thank you for the support and advice. We’ve been trying to keep track of everything.

Penny said:
So sorry your daughter went through this. Definitely follow up with a legal professional and document everything from here on. It will help if you pursue legal action.

Keeping a record is super important in these cases. Wishing you the best as you move forward!