Cleveland v. Taft Union High School Dist.

FACTS

In January 2013, 16-year-old high school student Bryan O. shot plaintiff Bowe Cleveland, another student, in the stomach with a shotgun near the start of their first period science class at Taft Union High School. When Bryan was in eighth grade, he moved from Tennessee to California with his mother and brothers. In the fall of 2010, Bryan started attending the District’s high school. In March 2011, Bryan was involved in a fight with several classmates during a physical education (P.E.) class. After the fight, Bryan told assistant principal Rona Angelo that he had been “T-bagged” during the incident. Bryan’s mother met with Angelo to discuss the incident, but Angelo did not tell her that Bryan had reported being “T-bagged.” Bryan was suspended for three days for his involvement in the incident. Before this incident, Bryan’s mother had reported to Angelo that Bryan told her he had complained to the P.E. teacher about bullying and the teacher told Bryan to “man up.” Angelo’s response was that “boys will be boys.” Bryan’s mother was unsatisfied with Angelo’s response and went to see superintendent Mark Richardson in his office. She described Richardson’s response as dismissive,…