6 Of The Most Disturbing Claims In NJ Bullying Death Lawsuit

ROCKAWAY, NJ — The bullying faced by Rockaway 12-year-old Mallory Grossman in the months before her suicide death are as shocking as when they were first revealed last year. A new lawsuit, filed by her parents against the Rockaway School District and a number of school officials, details the bullying faced by Mallory in a new depth, including an allegation that school officials forced Mallory to hug her bullies.

The suit accuses the district of knowing about and failing to properly address the bullying Mallory faced on school grounds, including cyberbullying that happened inside of Copeland Middle School. Some details about the bullying have been shared through Dianne Grossman's anti-bullying efforts this past year, but the lawsuit filing is the first time the bullying is detailed to this extent.

Here are six of the most disturbing allegations of bullying and negligence outlined in the lawsuit:

The Final Meeting

On the day of her death, Mallory and her parents met with Copeland Middle School principal Alfonso Gonnella, and her guidance counselor Sonya Patel, in a meeting the lawsuit says “irretrievably humiliated Mallory.” During the meeting, Mallory was asked to sit at the principal’s desk and speak to then-superintendent Greg McGann over the phone.

Gonnella allegedly gave Mallory a poker chip and asked her to write her initials and the date on it. Alluding to a poker game, Gonnella is said to have asked Mallory, “Are you all in?”

During that same meeting Gonella allegedly instructed the Grossmans to take Mallory home for the day because school was an unsafe place for her, while also acknowledging that he could get in “a lot of trouble” for suggesting that.

Choir Class Bullying

Two of the bullies, called E.F. and C.D. in the suit, had choir class with Mallory, the lawsuit says. It was one of Mallory’s favorite classes until the two girls began bullying her there, “constantly kicking the back of Mallory’s chair” and verbally taunting her, the suit says. Eventually, Mallory was removed from the class while E.F. and C.D. were allowed to stay.

Being Forced To Hug Bullies

The alleged bullying was brought to the attention of school officials many times, the suit alleges, but instead of finding real solutions, the school attempted to have Mallory fix the issues. In one instance, instead of punishing the alleged bullies, officials forced Mallory to hug her tormentors, the suit says.

“Why Don’t You Kill Yourself?”

Some of the most haunting allegations in the lawsuit are when the bullies taunt Mallory about suicide. One of the girls, identified in the filing as A.B., allegedly asked Mallory, “When are you going to kill yourself?” in front of a group of students. On June 14, 2017, Mallory died by suicide.

Getting Iced Out At Lunch

The bullying was so bad Mallory couldn’t even eat lunch in the lunchroom, the lawsuit says. The day before her death, Mallory tried to find a spot to sit with other students, but A.B. allegedly told Mallory, “You can’t sit here, you have no friends.” Instead, Mallory ate lunch alone in the guidance office, at the suggestion of school officials.

Snapchat Harassment

Some of the bullying was shared with fellow students via the popular social media app Snapchat. The alleged bullies would take photos of Mallory in school and include mean comments when sharing them like, “U have no friends,” “poor Mal.” When Mallory asked the girls to stop and to leave her alone, they reported told her “never.”

Follow Patch's reporting on this story:

• Bullying Of Mallory Grossman, 12, Detailed In Wrongful Death Suit
• 1 Year Later, Mallory Grossman Lives On In Anti-Bullying Efforts
• Mom Shares 'Last Selfie' Taken With Mallory Grossman Before Death
• Mallory Grossman's Family Sues Rockaway Schools Over Bullying That Led To Suicide
• Bullying Against Mallory Grossman Wasn't Ignored, Rockaway School Officials Say
• Rockaway Schools Respond To Lawsuit Over 12-Year-Old's Suicide, Bullying
• Mother Of Rockaway 12-Year-Old Who Died Complained To School About Bullying
• 'Mallory's Army' Fights Back Against Bullying After 12-Year-Old's Sudden Death
• Rockaway 6th Grader Who Passed Away Remembered As Charitable And Outdoorsy
• Community Donates $64K To Family Of Rockaway Middle Schooler Who Died Last Week

Do you have a story to tell? Email us at bullies@patch.com.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

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