California court upholds Eleri Irons $1 million bullying verdict against El Segundo Unified School District
A recent decision by a California appeals court upheld a verdict that required the El Segundo Unified School District in Los Angeles County to pay $1 million to a former student, Eleri Irons, who was the victim of a prolonged bullying campaign that included death threats. The court found the school district negligent in protecting Irons from the relentless bullying, torment, and aggression she faced during her time at El Segundo Middle School.
Irons, who is now 21 years old, was just 13 when the bullying began in November 2017 and continued until June 2018. The harassment stemmed from a fallout in a friendship due to a love triangle, which escalated into a campaign of verbal abuse, physical assault, and online harassment. Irons endured being called derogatory names, being physically assaulted, and even facing death threats in the form of a petition circulating at the school titled “End the Life of Eleri Irons.”
The lawsuit filed in 2019 highlighted the severe impact the bullying had on Irons, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-harm, and seeking refuge in the school nurse’s office during lunch breaks. Despite her parents’ efforts to address the issue with school officials, the district failed to take meaningful action, notify her parents, or follow their own anti-bullying policies.
In response to the appeal, Irons’ attorney, Christa Ramey, criticized the district for prolonging the case and forcing Irons to relive one of the most traumatic periods of her life. The court ruling confirmed that the school district had failed to protect Irons from the bullies and hold accountable those responsible for the relentless campaign of harassment she endured.
While the school district had initially promised to “do the right thing” following the 2022 verdict, it has not publicly addressed the recent appeals court ruling. The three main bullies involved in the campaign were suspended for their actions, but the district’s failure to address the issue effectively led to the court’s decision to hold them accountable for their negligence.
Despite the trauma she faced, Irons shared that she forgave her bullies during an interview in 2018, acknowledging that they too did not receive the necessary intervention they needed. She expressed a desire to move forward and emphasized the importance of addressing bullying in schools to prevent others from experiencing similar harm. The court’s decision serves as a reminder of the responsibility schools have in ensuring the safety and well-being of their students.
