Lawsuit Filed Against Palmer School District for Alleged Bullying of Second Grader
Palmer, MA – The mother of a former second-grade student at Old Mill Pond Elementary School has filed a lawsuit against the City of Palmer and J.P. McCarthy & Sons, the bus company serving local schools, alleging ongoing physical abuse her son suffered while riding the school bus.
The case, disclosed in a complaint filed at Hampden Superior Court, describes disturbing incidents where the boy frequently returned home from school covered in bruises, starting in September 2021. According to his mother, Susan Fitzgerald, her son endured repeated assaults from an older student, who would physically overpower him on a bus overcrowded with 72 students, far exceeding its 25-seat capacity.
Fitzgerald claims that her son reported these incidents to bus staff, including Laura Coulombe, a paraprofessional, but no action was taken. The abuse allegedly included the older student covering the boy’s mouth and slamming his head against a bus window, all while dozens of other students and adults looked on without intervening.
The lawsuit suggests a systematic failure by both the school and the bus company to address complaints and protect the boy. Fitzgerald’s attempts to engage school officials, including a failed request for security footage from the bus, met with bureaucratic obstacles. After expressing concerns, she was unexpectedly served with a No Trespass Order by the school superintendent, complicating her ability to advocate for her son.
The family is seeking damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress resulting from the alleged harassment, which has left the child struggling with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The defendants have yet to respond to the lawsuit. Fitzgerald remains determined to fight for her son’s rights after feeling her concerns were met with silence.
The unfolding situation continues to raise questions about student safety within the Palmer school district.
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