the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEFIELD, NJ — A disturbing lawsuit has been filed against the Ridgefield Public Schools and several district officials, alleging that a Jewish-Cuban student endured years of relentless bullying, physical assaults, and antisemitic and racist harassment — all while school leaders failed to protect her or intervene appropriately.
The suit names the Ridgefield Board of Education, Superintendent Alexander Anemone, High School Principal Vickki Nadler, Vice Principal Vanessa Martyniuk, Anti-Bullying Specialist Anna Georgiou, and more than half a dozen students as defendants.
Years of Abuse Ignored, Lawsuit Claims
According to the complaint, the abuse began when the student was in eighth grade and intensified through high school. The lawsuit details repeated incidents of:
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Antisemitic and racist verbal attacks
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Physical assaults, including one where the student was thrown to the ground and had hair violently pulled out
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Harassment outside of school, including threats and stalking
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Online abuse through fake accounts and the sharing of humiliating videos
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Death threats to the student and her family
Despite reporting these events to school officials, no Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) investigations were conducted in the early stages. In some cases, the student was even punished for being absent due to fear or mental health struggles caused by the bullying, the lawsuit says.
“Shocking and Unforgivable,” Says Student’s Attorney
“What happened to my client, who was relentlessly harassed, bullied and subjected to non-stop antisemitic and racist abuse while a student in the district, is both shocking and unforgivable,” said Jonathan Ettman, the student’s attorney. “We intend to hold those responsible accountable — including school officials who were completely indifferent to what my client was experiencing and allowed it to continue unabated.”
The lawsuit describes how the bullying persisted even after parents notified high school officials ahead of time. The student was placed in the same class as one of her main bullies, and the abuse reportedly continued daily, with no meaningful intervention from school administrators.
Mental Health and Academic Impact
The repeated trauma took a toll on the student’s mental health. The lawsuit says she suffered panic attacks, anxiety, declining grades, and school avoidance. In time, the situation became so dire that she withdrew from Ridgefield Public Schools entirely and is now receiving ongoing medical treatment.
District Response
Superintendent Anemone declined to comment, citing the district’s policy on not discussing pending litigation.
Seeking Accountability
The lawsuit claims the district failed to act despite multiple red flags, prior knowledge of the aggressors’ history of violent behavior, and repeated pleas from the student and her family. It further alleges that the school’s response — or lack thereof — allowed the harassment to escalate unchecked.
If the lawsuit succeeds, it could prompt statewide conversations about bullying policy enforcement and the responsibilities of public schools to protect vulnerable students.
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