KLLF Brings Federal Lawsuit Against Long Island School District on Behalf of Teen Performing Artist for Years of Unchecked Bullying and Harassment
On January 22, 2024, KLLF filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of a former Smithtown, NY public school student who suffered years of bullying and harassment at the hands of students and staff for his gender presentation. The complaint details how the Smithtown Central School District and school officials failed to protect Michael J. Coppola, a talented performing artist, from death threats, bullying, harassment, and abuse.
The lawsuit alleges that Michael was relentlessly bullied while attending Smithtown schools from fourth grade to ninth grade. Michael first came to his parents in first grade with questions about his gender identity. While Michael’s home environment was deeply supportive, his school days were a living nightmare. Over the six-year span of Michael’s time in the Smithtown Central School District, students threw objects, pushed and shoved Michael, and uttered homophobic profanities at him as he walked down the halls.
According to the lawsuit, Michael’s parents regularly reported these instances to Smithtown administrators and made numerous formal complaints under the New York Dignity for All Students Act (“DASA”). Despite being aware of Michael’s treatment at school, administrators failed to adequately respond to these incidents or create a viable plan that ensured Michael’s safety. In fact, the complaint alleges that some of Michael’s own teachers made inappropriate comments about Michael’s gender presentation. Instead of fostering Michael’s interest in the arts, his teachers actively discouraged him from auditioning for certain parts and failed to nominate him for nationwide competitions despite his exceptional talent.
“Smithtown Central School District and its teachers had a duty to investigate and remedy the severe bullying Michael experienced there. Their callous disregard of repeated instances of assault and harassment at the hands of other students and staff amounts to a violation of Title IX and state and local laws. Smithtown failed at every level to protect this child,” said KLLF’s David Lebowitz.
The lawsuit outlines how Smithtown administrators stood by as Michael’s emotional and mental health deteriorated. “It has been devastating for my entire family to witness all that Michael has had to suffer at Smithtown Schools.” said his mother, Diane Coppola. “We have lost six years of Michael’s young life, spending all our time and resources to get Smithtown administrators to take Michael’s bullying seriously and picking up the pieces to keep him whole.” Michael’s experience was so harmful that his parents were ultimately forced to remove him from the school district for his own safety. “The damage has left my son, who was once a very social and vibrant spirit, struggling daily to find some happiness. The scars from his experience at Smithtown Central School District will forever be a part of his life,” said Mrs. Coppola.
“Smithtown Central School District’s failure to prevent Michael’s bullying is a violation of clearly established federal and state anti-discrimination laws. I have known Michael for years and it has been immensely frustrating to watch Smithtown administrators engage in meaningless handwringing instead of providing actual solutions,” said co-counsel Dawn Murphy, who represents Michael alongside KLLF. “No child should have to suffer the way Michael did.”
“There is extensive documentation showing that Smithtown was aware of Michael’s treatment at school and did little to prevent it. Instead, Smithtown unlawfully put the onus on Michael to protect himself from his abusers. Schools are supposed to be safe places where all students are respected and encouraged to reach their full potential. For Michael, however, Smithtown schools were the site of irreparable harm and trauma,” said KLLF associate Pooja Shivaprasad.
For more, watch the Coppola family describe their ordeal in an interview with CBS News New York.