Family Sues Newport Officials Over “Severe, Persistent, and Violent Harassment” of Their Child
GoLocalProv News Team
Family Sues Newport Officials Over “Severe, Persistent, and Violent Harassment” of Their Child
The bullying was so severe that on one occasion, other students reportedly shoved macaroni and cheese down their son's pants not once, but twice, and he was forced to wear the soiled clothes for the remainder of the day — and school officials did not contact his parents.
In the ten-page lawsuit filed in federal court this week, Michael and Alicia Turskey allege their son, starting in the sixth grade, was “frequently harassed, bullied, and physically assaulted by other students at the school” — and that administrators were notified on multiple occasions of the abuse.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn the suit, their son is identified as “M.T.”
“Students placed several notes in M.T.’s locker; one on February 14, 2023 in a Valentine’s Day card, which said “Go kill yourself.” M.T. reported receiving this card to his School counselor, who in turn reported it to School Administrators, including Defendants Barrios and Vockerodt,” according to the lawsuit.
Nicholas Vockerodt, the Vice Principal of Thompson Middle School, is named as a defendant; “Barrios” refers to defendant Xavier Barrios — the now-former principal of Thompson Middle School who resigned last spring.
“Despite that the Defendants were aware of the ongoing bullying and abuse, Defendants City and/or District’s employees and/or agents, including, but not limited to, Defendants Barrios and/or Vockerodt, failed to effectuate remedial measures to stop the abusive conduct,” states the lawsuit.
Mac and Cheese Incident
The lawsuit goes on to state that despite teachers and administrators knowing of the abuse, the harassment continued — and got worse.
According to the lawsuit:
"Despite that the Defendants were aware of the ongoing bullying and abuse, Defendants City and/or District’s employees and/or agents, including, but not limited to, Defendants Barrios and/or Vockerodt, failed to effectuate remedial measures to stop the abusive conduct.
As a result of Defendants Barrios and/or Vockerodt’s refusal and/or failure to effectuate remedial measures to stop the student-on-student harassment, bullying, and assaults against the Plaintiff, the daily conduct continued and, in fact, worsened.
As an example, on or about March 15, 2023, M.T. was attacked by other students at lunch, who grabbed him and shoved handfuls of warm macaroni and cheese down the front and back of M.T.’s pants. Following this incident, M.T. did his best to clean himself in the bathroom and returned to the lunchroom.
Upon returning to the lunchroom, M.T. was attacked again and students shoved handfuls of macaroni and cheese down his pants a second time.
M.T., as he did on several other occasions, immediately reported the incident to a faculty member and filed a report with School administrators.
Despite reporting the incidents to the School, School officials failed to take any action to assist M.T., including failing to provide him clean clothes or to contact M.T.’s parents. As a result, M.T. was forced [to] wear soiled pants for the remainder of the school day."
The lawsuit states that “M.T.” submitted at least six written reports of abuse and bullying during the 2022-2023 school year/
“Despite these reports and being keenly aware that M.T. was being subjected to student-on-student harassment, bullying, and abuse, neither Defendants Barrios or Vockerodt nor any other District official took any action to protect M.T.,” according to the lawsuit. "In addition, except on one occasion, the Defendants never notified M.T.’s parents of the ongoing bullying, despite it occurring on a daily basis. Furthermore, not until after M.T.’s father complained, in writing, about the macaroni and cheese incident to the District’s Superintendent in March, 2023, was a safety plan developed for M.T. while at school. Nonetheless, despite the safety plan, M.T. continued to be bullied by the same student perpetrators.”
M.T. transferred to another school district in April of 2023, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed by attorney Michael Pushee, is seeking claims for relief on five counts — deprivation of rights; negligence; negligent infliction of emotional distress; intentional infliction of emotional distress, and loss of consortium, as it pertains to the Tuskeys' relationship with their son.
Newport City Hall and Newport School Department declined to respond to requests for comment.