Mother Files Lawsuit Over Alleged School Bullying Failures

AT Legal PC is honored to represent a Montana mother in a significant federal lawsuit arising from the tragic loss of her daughter. As reported by the Billings Gazette, the case centers on allegations that a local school system failed to address repeated bullying despite warning signs and requests for intervention. The mother’s decision to pursue accountability reflects both her commitment to her child’s memory and the broader role of legal advocacy in advancing fairness, safety, and institutional responsibility.

According to court filings, the student—identified as M.G.—had a Section 504 Plan in place and experienced ongoing bullying from classmates after enrolling at the school. The lawsuit alleges that school administrators were made aware of serious incidents, including messages telling the student to kill herself and a subsequent physical altercation, but failed to take adequate action. The mother contends that her requests for further intervention were ignored and that neither she nor her daughter received follow-up support after the reported incidents.

Two days after returning to school following a brief absence, M.G. died by suicide. The lawsuit states that in notes left behind, she identified bullying as the reason for her actions. The mother also alleges the district failed to preserve key evidence related to the incidents, including student records and video footage. In addition to seeking damages, the lawsuit calls for changes to district policies governing how bullying complaints are documented and addressed.

The school district has denied all wrongdoing, asserting that staff responded appropriately based on the information available at the time and that the student did not display warning signs indicating a foreseeable suicide risk. The district is seeking to limit any potential damages under Montana law and has requested a jury trial. The case unfolds amid broader concerns about youth suicide in Montana, which continues to have one of the highest teen suicide rates in the country.