BOSTON — In a recent court ruling, a Massachusetts jury awarded $5.4 million in damages to the family of a 15-year-old who committed suicide in 2018, finding that his football coach and several school administrators at Portsmouth High School were negligent ahead of the tragedy. The legal proceedings, ending this Wednesday, cast a long shadow over issues related to faculty responsibility and student safety in academic institutions.
The case centered around Nathan Bruno, who took his own life following alleged pressure from his then-football coach, Ryan Moniz, to disclose the identities of peers involved in sending harassing messages to Moniz. The family claimed that Moniz further exacerbated the situation by having team members encourage Bruno to name the students, leading to significant emotional distress for the teenager.
In a groundbreaking verdict, the jury attributed the cause of Bruno’s suicide directly to Moniz’s actions, stipulating that the compensation, initially $3.1 million to be adjusted to $5.4 million with interest, be borne by the school district. Richard Bruno, Nathan’s father, declined to comment on the verdict. Efforts to reach Moniz for a statement remained unanswered.
This lawsuit follows similar cases in the U.S. where school districts faced legal consequences following student suicides. Notably, earlier in 2023, a Utah district agreed to a $2 million settlement with the family of a 10-year-old girl who suffered bullying and abuse from classmates before her death.
In the aftermath of Bruno’s death, the Portsmouth School Committee removed Moniz from his coaching role, although he remains listed as a teacher on their website. Further reflecting the impact of this tragedy, Rhode Island legislators enacted a law in 2021, named after Bruno, mandating suicide prevention measures and training across public schools in the state.
The lawsuit not only targeted Moniz but also implicated the town of Portsmouth and various school personnel, accusing them of breaching their duty of care towards Bruno. This included failing to inform Bruno’s parents about a police inquiry concerning their son, a move that allegedly intensified his ordeal.
The litigation also enveloped Jamestown Detective Derek Carlino, who, after filing a complaint against Bruno at Moniz’s request, reportedly disclosed confidential information about the teen to the coach. Both a former principal and an assistant principal at Portsmouth High alongside Carlino were deemed negligent by the jury.
Legal representatives for the town expressed respect for the judicial system but noted ongoing legal proceedings that could influence the final outcome including possible appeals to higher courts. Similarly, the attorney for Carlino and the town of Jamestown acknowledged the jury’s decision with mixed feelings, relieved that their clients were cleared of causing Bruno’s death but disappointed by the negligence verdict.
Adding to the $3.1 million in direct damages, the family is set to receive additional compensation factoring in interest accrued since Bruno’s passing, bringing the total award to $5.4 million.
This case accentuates the critical importance of the manner in which schools and their staff interact with students, particularly those undergoing crises, highlighting the potential legal liabilities that educational institutions face in regard to student welfare.
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