EL SEGUNDO, CA — The California Court of Appeals has upheld a $1 million verdict that found the El Segundo Unified School District negligent in protecting a then-middle school student who was being bullied by her peers, court records show.
ESUSD Superintendent Dr. Jason Johnson declined to comment on the decision, saying it involved a "current legal matter."
The student, identified as E.I. in court documents, was the target of bullying and harassment at El Segundo Middle School from 2017 to 2018.
When the then-13-year-old student reported theissue to a school counselor, the counselor told her, "girls will be girls," or that "[t]his is just girl drama," according to court documents.
At some point, the student who was bullying E.I. created a petition calling for the death of the 13-year-old, according to court documents. Other students at the middle school signed the petition and commented on it, using derogatory words, according to court documents.
The lawsuit accusing the school district of negligence was filed in 2019, court records show. In 2022, a jury sided with the student, agreeing that the district failed to protect her from bullying, court records show.
"(E.I) felt as though she was not heard despite numerous complaints to the school," the student's attorney, Christa Ramey, told Patch. "After the verdict, she felt as though the jury had heard her."
The jury awarded the plaintiff $1 million in damages, but the district appealed the decision, arguing several items, including that the student failed to prove any of her injuries and that it wasn't responsible for how employees handled the issue, citing a government code that removes all liability from public employees.
But a judge on Friday rejected the argument, saying the district had not established error for most of the issues it raised on its appeal.
"For those issues where we have assumed error, the District has not met its burden to show any prejudice," the judge wrote in the appeal decision. "Thus, there is no prejudice to cumulate."
Ramey said the 13-year-old was "thrilled with the result," and this was "another affirmation that the court of appeals has heard her." Ramey added.
"Because this opinion is certified for publication, (E.I) recognizes that her going through this experience – trial and appeal – means that her case may now help other kids," Ramey said. "Hopefully, now the District will take responsibility for its conduct."