Pittsburgh district denies liability in harassment lawsuit

From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Pittsburgh school district contends that the complaints at the heart of a federal lawsuit over gender-based bullying were investigated and dismissed by the state Human Relations Commission. But the attorney representing the victim says that wasn't the commission's action. The district issued a statement that denies any liability for the alleged harassment of a girl several boys over two years at Frick Middle School. The lawsuit says constant bullying over her appearance and weight drove the straight-A student into treatment for an eating disorder.

EARLIER from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The mother of a former Pittsburgh public school student contends in a federal lawsuit that administrators knew her daughter was being harassed over her weight, but their lack of action led to the girl developing anorexia and having to withdraw from school and seek mental health treatment. According to the complaint, which does not identify the student, the harassment began while the girl was in sixth grade during the 2006-07 school year. Three boys in the girl's school harassed her and called her names on a daily basis, the lawsuit says.