NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — The family of a teen girl who died by suicide last year just days after a video of her being bullied went viral on social media is now suing a school board in Ocean County.
Adriana Kuch’s family alleges administrators at Central Regional High School knew of the bullying and did not try to stop it. They are suing the board of education, as well as the former superintendent, for allegedly making false and defamatory statements about the Kuch family after the 14-year-old’s death.
On Feb. 1, 2023, Kuch was walking down the hallway with her boyfriend when she was attacked by other students, according to NBC 4 New York. Video of the fight went viral and two days later Kuch took her own life.
Kuch’s family says this is not the first instance of bullying at the school. Their attorney, Williams Krais, says two other lawsuits are pending in addition to theirs.
“They knew they had a bullying problem,” Krais said. “...They knew that fights were recorded and knew that the fights were posted to social media, turning physical attacks into cyber attacks. Yet they did very little to stop it.”
“...Those three lawsuits combined show this problem had proceeded long before Feb. 1, 2023.”
Krais says schools have a duty to protect students from harassment and Central Regional failed to meet those obligations.
“The school district, school officials, and the superintendent have not taken responsibility. Instead, at each turn, they have attempted to deflect blame. What happened to Adriana shouldn’t happen to another child.”
KYW reached out to the Central Regional Board of Education president but has not heard back.