Family of McKenzie Adams files lawsuit against DCSS

Published 4:27 pm Thursday, January 16, 2020

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The family of McKenzie Adams, a 9-year-old who committed suicide in December 2018, has filed a lawsuit against the Demopolis City School System.

McKenzie was a fourth grade student at U.S. Jones Elementary at the time of her death and her family says that bullying at school led the young girl to take her own life.

A lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama by lawyers representing the family. The suit accuses school officials of failing to meet state and federal laws related to bullying. McKenzie’s mother, Jasmine Adams, and her grandmother, Janice Adams, are each listed as plaintiffs. The complaint names the school system superintendent as well as other administrators and faculty.

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The family claims the school system demonstrated “blatant indifference” to the bullying McKenzie Adams experienced and that complaints made to school officials by the student and her family were not acted upon.

Demopolis Board of Education Attorney Alex Braswell stated, “The Demopolis City Board of Education has only now learned of the lawsuit filed against them on behalf of McKenzie Adams. While we are not permitted to discuss pending litigation, the Demopolis Board of Education can say that we look forward to defending this case and dispelling all allegations made therein.”