Stephen patton suicide and suicide

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Stephen patton suicide and suicide: The estate of Stephen

More in News. However, Caudill said, "The record is clear that Stephen was not known to be suicidal. The Court of Appeals held that the defendants were not immune from a suit but it found they couldn't be liable for a suicide, especially one that didn't occur at school. Cantley concedes that not every case in which a student is bullied and ultimately commits suicide should result in a viable lawsuit.

But she asks the Supreme Court to find that suicide is not a total bar against recovery of damages. She said in an email that if the court sends that case back for a jury trial and the estate prevails, his parents will use any proceeds to start a foundation in Stephen's memory to fund anti-bullying education and training. Here "rules were broken.

Stephen Patton died. But there have been no consequences for those who broke the rules. The first suit in which a school district was found liable for a student's suicide also involved a year-old.

Stephen patton suicide and suicide: Mother sues school officials after bullied

He didn't tell Shawn's parents or inform other school officials. Shawn tried to kill himself again on school grounds later the same day, then hanged himself in his back yard a couple of days later. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email. Patton's family is appealing after losing in circuit court and the state Court of Appeals. Tags Kentucky Supreme Court.

Stephen patton suicide and suicide: The Teachers' and Administrators' evidence suggested

Related Content. Associated Press. The Kentucky Supreme Court has upheld the state's authority to regulate betting on older, recorded horse races. But the justices on Thursday sidestepped…. Now on Wednesday, eight years later, the Kentucky Supreme Court here will hear arguments on whether schools can be held liable for failing to stem bullying that causes a student's suicide.

Stephen's mother, Sheila Patton, sued on his behalf, saying that four teachers, two school superintendents and Principal Davida Bickford knew he had been bullied daily but did nothing to stop it. The defendants in the school of more than students in Eastern Kentucky about miles from the state capital say Stephen's death was heart wrenching but deny they knew about the hazing.

Even if they had, they say it would have been impossible for them to foresee that Stephen would kill himself when his death took his own mother and friends by surprise. The teachers and administrators have prevailed in two lower courts, but the Supreme Court will decide whether to reinstate the lawsuit in a case that could have major consequences, given the prevalence of bullying and how often young people consider suicide.

Stephen patton suicide and suicide: The tormented life of

Executive Director Wayne Young of the Kentucky Association of School Administrators, which represents 3, educators, said it would be frighteningly unfair to hold them accountable for something so unpredictable. Brad Hughes, spokesman for the Kentucky School Boards Association, said schools try to prevent bullying because it makes it harder for students to learn, but he said it would be unfair to hold them accountable for something they didn't know about or that happens away from school.

Patton's suit is thought to be the first of its kind in Kentucky, but across the USA a flood of grieving parents have filed a flood of similar complaints. In the past year alone, suits have been filed in Chicago; East St. Louis, Ill. But while such litigation continues unabated, teachers and school districts have won most of the cases, said Perry Zirkel, a professor of law and education at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.