the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Woodcliff Lake NJ, a Woodcliff Lake parent has taken legal action against the local school district, claiming officials mishandled a bullying investigation and, in doing so, caused lasting harm to his son and family. The lawsuit, filed in Bergen County Superior Court, alleges that the district wrongly determined that the family’s elementary-aged son had made a discriminatory comment, causing the young student anxiety and fear about attending school.
The incident, which occurred in March at Dorchester Elementary School, reportedly involved a misunderstanding during a gym class. The lawsuit states that the boy was accused of calling a classmate “autistic,” which allegedly left the classmate upset. However, the boy denies using the term and claims he was only engaged in a playground argument, during which he called his peer “dumb.”
A Strained Investigation
The lawsuit raises questions about the investigation process, which the family claims was filled with inconsistencies. For example, witness statements were reportedly replaced by interpretations from school staff, and the school’s anti-bullying specialist relied heavily on a paraprofessional’s account — despite that individual not directly witnessing the exchange. Further, the family argues that the process violated confidentiality standards, with details of the incident spreading through the student body.
When the boy’s mother received a call from the school principal, she expressed doubts that her son would even know the word “autistic.” The mother also pointed out that the school had previously dismissed a report she had filed months earlier about a student using a derogatory term toward her son. In this new case, she argued, her son was being singled out partly due to his Muslim background.
A Call for Reform and Damages
The family is seeking financial compensation for emotional distress and reputational damage, as well as educational support for their son. They also want the court to invalidate the school’s harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) finding and to remove it from the boy’s record. Additionally, the family is calling for new safeguards to ensure fairness and confidentiality in future investigations.
Under New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, a validated HIB finding requires proof that a student’s actions substantially interfered with another student’s rights or caused significant emotional harm. According to the family, the district’s evidence did not meet this threshold. They have also contested the lack of any concrete measure to show how the classmate’s learning was disrupted.
Aftermath and Future Steps
Despite the family’s appeal, the district upheld its decision in May, asserting that the investigation was handled appropriately and that hearsay evidence was permissible. Although the boy’s record now includes the HIB finding, the school did not impose any disciplinary action. Instead, he was assigned to attend after-school sessions focused on understanding autism, conflict resolution, and sensitivity training.
The family’s lawsuit brings to light growing concerns around how schools handle sensitive bullying and discrimination cases. With a legal ruling still pending, this case could have implications for district policies, highlighting the need for transparent and fair practices in student investigations.
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First, if I walked up to that school and I say all those kids playing with those idiot streamers, I’d start my investigation into why there isn’t more bullying going on.
Second, it doesn’t matter what word was used. If a word causes *you* “significant emotional harm” *you* are a major part of the problem, and a little bullying is probably good for *you* — to teach *you* to stop being a bitch.
That’s why I said my kids too boxing school, so they know how to defend themselves . I told my kids if any bullies ever bother you you take care of them and I notified all his teachers all top officials in the school and all top officials and board of education. If anything occurs to my kid, any other kid gets his ass beaten while you know about it oh yes, not a problem, no one ever mess with my kid
My life until early 20s was spent in one of the most horrible communist regimes in the world. During that time I remember that if someone said something about grocery shelves being empty, he/she would end up in a multi year prison sentence and the record would follow them for life. Or if a kid innocently said something bad about a communist figure his whole family would be in serious trouble.
Persecuting a kid for using the wrong word and putting it in record is beyond insane. Kids go to school to learn and when they make mistakes they should be given advice and educated. Taking them to the principal is idiotic. It is the school’s responsibility to teach and educate but not through extreme methods. Often, it seems like the administration is the real bully.
Jeez, what a world of lunatics.