A California appeals court has upheld a $1 million jury verdict against the El Segundo Unified School District, ruling in favor of Eleri Irons, a former middle school student who sued the district for failing to protect her from bullying. The decision, announced on Monday, confirms the district’s negligence in addressing the bullying Irons endured from November 2017 to June 2018.
Irons, now in her 20s, was awarded the verdict in 2022 after a Los Angeles Superior Court jury found the district negligent in supervising and training its employees. The bullying began when Irons was 13 and included verbal harassment, cyberbullying, and physical aggression by three students, two of whom were former friends. One student even created a petition titled “End Eleri Irons’ life,” which circulated on campus.
Irons’ attorney, Christa Ramey, stated that the school officials failed to take meaningful action despite being aware of the threats. The district appealed the verdict, arguing that it was immune from liability and that Irons had not proven her injuries were due to employee negligence. However, the appeals court rejected these claims, affirming that the district had a duty to protect Irons.
The ruling highlights the importance of school accountability in handling bullying complaints and sets a precedent for similar cases. According to Los Angeles Times, Ramey criticized the district for spending taxpayer money on the appeal instead of supporting Irons’ recovery.
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