Mom alleges bullying led to son’s suicide in suit against Lebanon schools

A family has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Lebanon School District of not doing anything about the repeated reports of their son getting bullied based on race and disability that led up to his suicide.

The lawsuit, which was filed Feb. 25, on behalf of Yadriel Rivera Jusino, the administrator of her son’s estate, also named school officials such as Nicholas Bullock and Daniel Rau, who are principal and assistant principal.

Twelve-year-old Yadriel Rivera Jusino committed suicide on June 3, 2024, after years of physical and verbal bullying because of his race and dyslexia, the suit said. The family alleges the school administrators, who are also named in the lawsuit, knew about it and didn’t investigate or intervene as school policy and federal laws require.

Lebanon School District Superintendent Nicole Malinoski shared a prepared comment that said the district is aware of the lawsuit, “strongly” denies the allegations and will not provide further comment because it is an active legal matter.

“The loss of a student is always heartbreaking, and our thoughts remain with the student’s family, friends and all who were affected by this tragedy,” the statement read, adding that a student’s death has a profound impact on a school community.

Jusino’s attorney, Nathaniel Foote of Andreozzi & Foote, said there are laws in Pennsylvania about suicide prevention, which require school districts to have policies and procedures in place to prevent suicides.

This is the third similar case his firm has worked on. One of the others involved Red Lion Area School District, where a mother accused the school district officials of being negligent in handling the anti-LGBTQ+ bullying, which resulted in her 15-year-old son, Zachary Kirchner, to commit suicide on April 20, 2021.

Foote said it’s important for families in these circumstances to fight back because “is there any story sadder than a teen or adolescent suicide? I mean, it’s hard to think of something more tragic.”

It’s also important, he said, to remember there is a family that lost their child. None of them, including Yadriel’s sister, will be the same.

“Although this case is really about Yadriel, at some level, the story is also about his sister, his parents and the rest of the people in his life, who lost their son and brother,” he said.

He said educators need to be aware of and react to this, as well as society, because youth mental health is worse than ever.

Additionally, students have a right to be free of gender, racial and disability-based harassment at schools. Peers and administrators have to respond appropriately to reports of harassment, Foote said.

“Because if they don’t, then this kind of thing happens,” he said. He expects there to be more similar cases in the future.

The lawsuit said Yadriel was born in Puerto Rico and primarily spoke Spanish. He started to attend the Lebanon School District in 2020 and received special education services for his dyslexia.

The bullying and physical assaults began around 2022, which he reported to the school counselor, according to the complaint. It also included that both Yadriel’s sister and stepfather, the latter of whom worked for the school district, reported the bullying to school officials, but alleged there was no follow-up or investigation.

Yadriel’s mother asked for a jury trial.

To get help

If you’ve experienced thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free through the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988 in the United States. You can find more information at 988lifeline.org.