Transgender Student's Death Leads To Lawsuit Against Manville School District

MANVILLE, NJ — The mother of a transgender student who committed suicide has filed a lawsuit against Manville's Board of Education alleging the school district did not properly address the repeated acts of bullying and harassment against 17-year-old Myles Fitzpatrick.

"Fitzpatrick has been severely injured as a result of such harassment and discrimination that he suffered physical and bodily injuries, severe emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, anguish, personal hardship, social disruption, psychological and emotional harm, and other such damages which ultimately led to plaintiff Fitzpatrick taking his life as a result of such harassment and discrimination," according to the lawsuit filed by Myles' mother Danielle Warshefski on May 2 in Somerset County Superior Court.

Manville Superintendent Dr. Jamil Maroun did not respond to Patch's request for comment.

Fitzpatrick entered Manville High School in 2018-19. In December 2020, Fitzpatrick began transitioning from being a female to a male, and changed his first name to Myles.

During the 2021-22 school year, Fitzpatrick "became the target of severe harassment, intimidation and bullying by his fellow students due to his gender identity," according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that harassment and bullying included constant comments and disparaging remarks during the school day concerning Fitzpatrick’s gender identity and status as a transitioning youth; being ridiculed about his appearance and clothing; be called specific slurs, including "f***ot," referring to him as "she" as a form of mockery; and was frequently physically bullied in the hallways of school by being pushed, being pushed into lockers, having items thrown at him, being kicked, and having his hair pulled.

As a result, Fitzpatrick experienced severe depression and anxiety, engaged in acts of self-mutilation and/or self-harm, and attempted suicide, according to the lawsuit.

These instances were also reported to District personnel by Warshefski.

"During the course of this continued harassment and bullying, Warshefski continued to complain about the occurrences and lack of intervention and/or remediation, even going so far as requesting that Fitzpatrick could receive some accommodation through virtual and/or homeschooling, a request which was denied," according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that the harassment and bullying continued without intervention or remediation to the point that on or about Nov. 7, 2022, Fitzpatrick committed suicide.

Due to the district's failure "to implement any preventative or remedial measures to protect against unlawful harassment and discrimination" the lawsuit is seeking compensatory damages;

consequential damages; punitive damages; attorneys’ fees, and other such other relief.

Following Fitpatrick's death, a GoFundMe was started for his family.

"Myles was fiercely loved by his mother, stepfather, brothers, sister and many other family and friends. He was a resident of Manville and expected to graduate from Manville High School, Class of 2023. They will carry him in their hearts forever, never forgotten," according to the GoFundMe.

See the full lawsuit below:

CivilCaseJacket (2) by Alexis Tarrazi on Scribd

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