May 24, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Mother of Elementary Student Says School Ignored Abuse, Bullying

Eight-year-old Grant Elementary School student’s mother files claim against Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District

By Sam Catanzaro

A mother of an eight-year-old elementary student has filed a claim against the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) saying teachers and the principal ignored ongoing incidents of physical and verbal abuse against her child.

A government claim was filed January 22 on behalf of an eight-year-old student at Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica, through his mother Sarah A. Mahir. It alleges that the district and its employees, including principal Christian Fuhrer and the school’s teachers, ignored ongoing incidents of physical and verbal abuse against the student and violated his civil rights through deprivation of his rights to free speech, expression and protection from bodily restraint, harm, personal insult and injury.

According to the claim, although the student and Mahir consistently reported to the administration repeated instances of bullying, tormenting, and aggression, the administration and teachers responsible for the conduct of other students and the eight -year-old’s safety did not protect the student from severe physical, emotional and mental injury, according to the the claim.

“The torture began shortly after his first day of kindergarten and has continued unchecked for more than two years,” says Los Angeles attorney and bullying expert Christa Ramey, who represents the African-American student.

“One student told him he looked like ‘poop.’ Others called him ‘gay’ and said he would go to hell. Students threatened to kill him,” Ramey adds. “Sarah reported the bullying to the school, but was told she was ‘over-reacting’ and he must be doing something to attract the harassment. When her child began talking about suicide, however, Sarah knew she needed to seek the assistance of an attorney in order to save him.”

The Santa Monica Mirror has reached out the SMMUSD and was told by a spokesperson that the district is not able to comment on ongoing litigation

According to the claim, between August 2017 and December 2019, students kicked, spat at and pushed the claimant and verbally abused him daily. When his mother sought to move him into a different first-grade classroom at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, Fuhrer said she submitted the request too late. The abuse became so severe, Mahir removed him from class for two weeks to receive psychological counseling.

The claim also alleges the district improperly trains its employees to handle bullies and responds inappropriately to student-against-student harassment and bullying. Fuhrer and Grant teachers acted carelessly, negligently, improperly, willfully, and inadequately supervised and monitored the claimant and other students during school hours, the claim asserts.

“The school turned a blind eye to the bullying and then intimidated and embarrassed him when he asked for help,” Ramey said. “Instead of protecting a vulnerable child in their custody, the school staff further victimized him. Would you send your child to school there?”

Ramey, in an email to the Santa Monica Mirror, claimed that the school’s principal – who she accused of victim-blaming – failed to resolve the situation.

“Principal Fuhrer had multiple opportunities to right this ship. However, the attitude seemed to be boys will be boys. Principal Fuhrer also suggested to our young client that he must be doing something to bring this on. This sort of attitude of let boys be boys or victim blaming are part of the larger cause of the bullying epidemic that is occurring across California schools,” Ramey said.

Mahir is seeking unspecified damages for past and future expenses for medical treatment and other care for the claimant’s injuries; emotional trauma; future loss of earnings and ability to earn; and past and future damages for pain, suffering, loss of functions and other personal injury losses.

<>Related Posts

Resilient Palisades Named Nonprofit of the Year by Sen. Ben Allen

May 23, 2025

May 23, 2025

Volunteer-led group honored for climate resilience work and wildfire recovery efforts Resilient Palisades, a grassroots environmental organization based in Pacific...

Governor Announces Early Reopening of Pacific Coast Highway After Wildfire Closures

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Major Stretch of PCH Reopens May 23 After Months of Wildfire-Related Closures Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that State Route...

Film Review: Final Destination: Bloodlines

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

FILM REVIEWFINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINESRated R110 MinutesReleased May 16th  This is the sixth entry in the Final Destination movie franchise that...

Bay Cities Deli Temporarily Closed After Health Violations

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Eleven violation points were attributed to the presence of rodents and insects Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery, a popular...

Man Arrested in Stabbing Near Santa Monica Pier

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Victim hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries following altercation A man was arrested after allegedly stabbing another man during an altercation near...

Exclusive Interview with Cardinale du Vin’s New Chef-in-Residence Paul Chuanchaisit

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

The Westside Wine Bar Expands Its Culinary Horizons With a Bold New Menu By Dolores Quintana Cardinale du Vin is...

Palisades Bakery Aids Displaced Residents with Deliveries, Cookbook Donations After Fire

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The bakery’s relief effort is aimed at ensuring that displaced residents continue to have access to familiar foods during recovery...

Memorial Day Weekend in L.A.: Rosé, Beach BBQs, and Brunches Ring in the Summer

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The Westside Is Packed With Culinary Events, Pop-Ups, and Parties This Weekend Angelenos looking to kick off the summer season...

Summer at Annenberg Beach House to Include Sunset Picnics, Yoga Classes and the Annual Cardboard Yacht Regatta

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The Beach House, located on the former Marion Davies estate, remains free and open to the public The Annenberg Community...

(Video) Interview with Chef Roy Choi for his new book The Choi of Cooking

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

We speak with the world-famous Socal Chef in Manhattan Beach at the Los Angeles Public Library.

FDA Probes Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Recalled Cucumbers Distributed in California

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

At Least 26 People Sickened and 9 Hospitalized in Multiple States  Federal health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of...

10th Annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street Comes to Santa Monica This Weekend

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

Annual board game-inspired food event set for Sunday, May 25 The 10th annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street will...

Michelin Three Star Institution Brings 20th Anniversary Culinary Experience to Beverly Hills

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

Grant Achatz’s Alinea Heads to Beverly Hills for Summer Residency Renowned chef Grant Achatz and his team at Alinea, Chicago’s Michelin...

$2.2M Awarded to LA County for Wildfire Prevention Ahead of 2025 Fire Season

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The grants mark the first disbursement of funds from Proposition 4, a bond measure that provides millions for wildfire resilience...

(Video) Classic Cars and Hot Rods Showcased During Santa Monica Pier’s Locals Night

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

It Was The Last Locals Night of the Season It Was The Last Locals Night of the Season. pic.twitter.com/mUo6hMJpPZ —...