The Moreno Valley Unified School District in California has reached an agreement to pay a staggering $27 million to the guardians of Diego Stolz, a 13-year-old boy who tragically lost his life due to a brutal assault at school. The incident, encapsulating the horrific repercussions of unchecked bullying, has led to what lawyers have declared the largest bullying settlement in United States history.
In September of 2019, Stolz, a student at Landmark Middle School, was struck in the head by two fellow male students, sending him crashing into a concrete pillar and inflicting a severe brain injury, as detailed in the ensuing lawsuit. The chilling incident was recorded on video by a witness, and young Diego never regained consciousness, succumbing to his injuries nine days later.
Filed in 2020, the wrongful death lawsuit levelled severe accusations at the school, insinuating a level of culpability on their part. According to the lawsuit, there were previous indications that Stolz had been the victim of bullying, but the school administration paid little heed to such warnings. The Moreno Valley Unified School District and its employees stand accused of “blatantly ignoring red flags” that may have very well prevented the unfortunate incident.
Nearly four years following the tragic loss, the settlement was announced on Thursday, sparking hope for a much-needed shift in school administration attitudes towards bullying. “The family will forever be heartbroken by the death of Diego, but they hope this case brings about change in school districts across the country,” commented lead counsel, Dave Ring. The counsel stressed the importance of recognizing and confronting bullying head-on, highlighting this as a learning moment for schools nationwide.
The lawsuit has served to put schools on notice regarding the urgency and necessity of proper bullying prevention and response strategies, according to Neil Gehlawat, another attorney handling the case. While the resolution does little to ease the deep-seated grief of the family, the attorney expressed optimism that this incident could catalyze a nationwide refocus on anti-bullying measures.
In the wake of the settlement, the district’s attorney, Michael Marlatt branded the sum as “fair and reasonable”. He acknowledged the gravity of the situation and the need for a compromise in light of the tragedy.
Moreno Valley Unified School District Superintendent, Martinrex Kedziora, addressed the settlement in a letter to families and school staff, reinforcing the commitment to student safety and well-being. Meanwhile, the lawsuit shines a harsh light on the alleged inadequate response from school administrators, despite numerous warning signals and aspiring efforts to seek help from a teacher, which were left practically ignored.
This heartrending fiasco culminated in Diego’s unfathomable confrontation with his bullies, which resulted in the unavoidable tragedy. While the two boys involved in the incident have since admitted to charges of involuntary manslaughter and served brief custodial sentences, the lawsuit’s reverberations underline the imperative need for nationwide reform in bullying prevention policies. Consequently, three school administrators were removed from their positions.
The monetary resolution, while large, merely underscores the irrefutable fact that no amount can compensate for the loss of a child’s life. However, this historic settlement serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of failure to act upon bullying signs and can spur schools across the United States to overhaul their response and prevention strategies for bullying.
