Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Settles Lawsuit Over Detainee’s Suicide Amid Criticism of Jail’s Mental Health Policies

Jacksonville, Fla. – A legal agreement has been finalized between Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, a corrections officer, and the grieving family of Esther Joy Truax, a woman who committed suicide while detained at the Duval County Pre-trial Detention Facility. The case, settled in December, emerged after multiple suicide attempts by Truax, highlighting ongoing concerns about inmate mental health management in correctional facilities. The lawsuit accused the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) of neglect and indifference towards Truax’s mental health, despite her documented history of suicide attempts and psychiatric struggles. Truax, who was 35 at the time … Read more

Jury Grants $5.4 Million to Family of Portsmouth High School Athlete in Landmark Suicide Case

Providence, RI — A Rhode Island jury awarded $5.4 million to the family of a Portsmouth High School athlete who died by suicide. The verdict came after the family argued that inadequate support and bullying contributed to the student’s tragic death. The athlete, who remained a significant part of the local high school sports culture, tragically passed away in 2017. The family’s lawsuit contended that his suicide was the direct result of continual bullying, which they claimed was exacerbated by the negligence of school officials who, they argued, failed to intervene effectively. During the trial, … Read more

Lawsuit Claims School’s Inaction Led to Tragic Suicide Attempt by Bullied 12-Year-Old

New York – A federal lawsuit filed this Wednesday in New York alleges that persistent bullying at a local middle school escalated to the point where a 12-year-old student attempted suicide. The legal action, initiated by the student’s parents, accuses the school administration of failing to intervene in the ongoing harassment, despite being repeatedly alerted by concerned parents. According to the lawsuit, the student, who has been referred to only by their initials for privacy, experienced severe and sustained bullying from classmates that began in the fall of the previous school year and continued unabated. … Read more

Family Sues School After Bullies’ Harassment Leads to Tragic Attempted Suicide of South Carolina Girl

Greenville, S.C. – A grievous tale of prolonged bullying in Greenville, South Carolina, has led to a harrowing incident involving Kelaia Turner, a 14-year-old girl who tragically attempted suicide at the age of 12 after enduring relentless torment from fellow students at Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School. According to a lawsuit filed by her family, the abuse spanned over a year, involving both physical and verbal elements, and culminated in a suicide attempt that left Turner with severe brain damage. The lawsuit, which implicates the school district and several faculty members, claims negligence in … Read more