Mallory Grossman's Family Sues Rockaway Schools Over Bullying That Led To Suicide

ROCKAWAY, NJ — The family of Mallory Grossman is suing the Rockaway Public School District following their daughter's suicide in late June, saying the school failed to prevent bullying, the family's lawyer announced to media outlets Monday.

The family's law firm, Nagel Rice of Roseland, has accused the school district of "gross negligence" for not stopping bullying on social media. Mallory was reportedly bullied on Snapchat, Instagram and through text messages by other students at Copeland Middle School in Rockaway.

"Her classmates used this cellphone to drive her into this tragedy. For months, there was text, there was Snapchat, there was Instagram, for months she was told, she's a loser, she has no friends, and finally, she was even told, 'why don't you kill yourself?'" attorney Bruce Nagel, who is representing the Grossmans, said in a press conference Tuesday morning, calling cyberbullying an epidemic. (You can watch the full press conference below.)

"This tragedy could have been prevented and this lawsuit should be a wake-up call to every school in every hamlet in our great country that cyberbullying is going on every day and that the schools must immediately take steps to stop this and protect every student in the school," Nagel said in a statement sent to NJ.com.

Diane Grossman, Mallory's mother, complained to the school about bullying monthly for nearly a year, up until the day of her daughter's death on June 19, including a meeting with officials that morning, as Patch reported.

• Read More: Mother Of Rockaway 12-Year-Old Who Died Complained To School About Bullying

"She represented what they [other students] couldn’t be, and therefore she had a target on her back, it really was about the humiliation and intimidation," Diane Grossman said Tuesday morning. She said the alleged bullying began in October 2016, and included "dirty looks, harassment, name calling, exclusion."

Rockaway Superintendent Greg McGann declined to comment Tuesday morning.

Mallory's death was investigated by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, something school officials called "standard protocol." A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office confirmed the investigation but declined to elaborate.

The family must first file a notice of intent to sue the school, which gives both parties an opportunity to settle outside of court. If no agreement is reached, a lawsuit could be filed.

Nagel said in the press conference that four girls who allegedly bullied Mallory and their parents could also be named as defendants in the case. Dianne Grossman said she spoke directly to one of the parents involved the night before Mallory's death, and was met with "resistance." (Patch has reached out to Nagel for comment and will update when we hear back.)

Tributes have poured in for Mallory since her death, including a nationwide campaign among cheerleaders to wear light blue in an effort to "blue out bullying." She has been remembered as charitable, favoring a camp to benefit children with cancer, artsy and athletic.

• Read More: Rockaway 6th Grader Who Passed Away Remembered As Charitable And Outdoorsy

A campaign for her family has raised more than $75,000, far exceeding the original goal of $10,000. Any funds not used for funeral expenses are being put toward an anti-bullying campaign, family friend and organizer Katee Reddin Petro has said.

Nagel announced in Tuesday's press conference Mal's Army, a non-profit, would work to prevent cyberbullying in schools.

• Read More: Community Donates $64K To Family Of Rockaway Middle Schooler Who Died Last Week
• Read More: 'Mallory's Army' Fights Back Against Bullying After 12-Year-Old's Sudden Death

Support services have been available during summer break at Copeland Middle School, where Mallory was a student, for those affected by her death. You can read more about these services on the school's website.

Watch the full press conference here:

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.

Image via GoFundMe