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Bullied schoolgirl kills herself 'just one hour after meeting with principal'

The family of a 12-year-old girl who took her own life after months of bullying is suing the school she attended.

Mallory Grossman, of Rockaway in New Jersey, US, committed suicide in June 2017 after allegedly being taunted by bullies to kill herself, The New York Post reports.

Her parents, Dianne and Seth, said their daughter had been bullied on up to 14 separate occasions and claimed they had evidence that the school could have stopped the attacks.

The family of a 12-year-old girl who took her own life after months of bullying are suing the school she attended. Source: Facebook
The family of a 12-year-old girl who took her own life after months of bullying are suing the school she attended. Source: Facebook

Mallory had been verbally bullied in person at the school, as well as via Snapchat and SMS.

Ms Grossman said on the day her daughter died she had had a three-hour meeting with the school’s principal, whom she alleged offered “no help” and left her daughter feeling “humiliated.”

One hour later, Mallory was dead.

“We know that the poor behaviour and poor decisions these kids make has not changed,” Dianne told The New York Post.

“They don’t believe they are ultimately responsible for it.”

Dianne Grossman said on the day Mallory died she had had a three-hour meeting with the school’s principal which left her daughter “humiliated.” Source: Facebook
Dianne Grossman said on the day Mallory died she had had a three-hour meeting with the school’s principal which left her daughter “humiliated.” Source: Facebook

The family is now suing the school and said they hoped it would send a strong message about the often tragic consequences of bullying.

In the lawsuit, they claim the school’s principal handed a poker chip to Mallory, asked her to write her initials on it and then said: “Are you all in?”

The lawsuit also alleges that instead of disciplining the bullies, the school’s solution was to encourage Mallory to eat away from the other children.

On another occasion, Mallory and her tormentors were instructed to “hug each other”.

“We are hopeful that the filing of this lawsuit will bring national awareness to the epidemic of cyber-bullying and that we do not have to attend any more funerals of students who have been the victims,” the family’s lawyer Bruce Nagel said.

For support and information about suicide prevention, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.