According to a new lawsuit, a 10-year-old Florida kid committed suicide as a result of his fifth-grade teacher’s constant bullying and “humiliation”.
Louis Johnson III, of Marion County in central Florida, committed suicide in April 2023 following what the lawsuit described as “months of bullying and public embarrassment” by his instructor Dawn White.
According to local broadcaster WCJB, his parents, Tyka Johnson and Louis Johnson, are now suing the Marion County School Board for negligence in causing his death and seeking at least $75,000 in damages.
The district conducted an investigation in July 2023 and discovered that White had “chronically inflicted psychological distress on multiple students by verbally insulting, humiliating, and embarrassing students, which created a hostile educational environment.”
As a result, the district banned White for five days and did not renew her contract for the next year.
However, the Johnsons claim that they had notified the school and the school board about White’s actions, to no avail.
Louis Johnson “felt like there was no escaping the incessant and daily public humiliation,” according to the complaint, which refers to White as Donna White.
It alleges White engaged in a “open, notorious, and protected pattern of bullying by systematically and chronically inflicting hurt and/or physical distress” on the 10-year-old, including “encouraging other students” to taunt and “humiliate” him.
According to the Ocala StarBanner, Louis Johnson and his parents relocated from Virginia to Ocala, Florida, just a few months before Johnson died.
His parents told detectives that he had previously been happy and had no behavioral issues, but that his grades and behavior had deteriorated once they relocated to Florida.
In a GoFundMe campaign set up after his death, they characterized Johnson as “the youngest of four and so full of potential and promise,” stating that he enjoyed traveling to the beach, hunting crabs, and creating dishes he saw on TikTok.
“You were lucky to have known him. “He would brighten any room with his infectious smile,” they remarked.
According to The Daily Mail, the lawsuit claims that during school, White constantly called Johnson “stupid,” “ridiculed him in front of his classmates,” and “recruit[ed] other students” to engage in the bullying.
“I am not sure why you are talking; you do not know anything. You do not know anything in this class. Is not that correct, kids? White apparently informed Johnson at one time.
The lawsuit also claims that White’s therapy caused Johnson to develop depression, anxiety, sleep issues, nightmares, and other signs of suffering, which eventually led to his death.
In the aftermath, Johnson’s parents distributed leaflets around the school accusing White.
