Gay Student Sues Catholic School for Failing To Stop Bullying
The Ohio lawsuit alleges administrators failed to stop football players from harassing him on campus and off.
A gay former student at a Catholic high school has filed a federal lawsuit accusing administrators of ignoring relentless bullying and harassment by members of the school’s storied football team.
The lawsuit, filed by a student identified as “Grandson Rudolph” and his legal guardian, “Grandmother Rudolph,” alleges that administrators shielded football players from discipline, prioritizing their protection over the safety of other students, according to CBS affiliate WTRF.
Filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the suit names Ursuline High School, Assistant Principal Margaret Damore, and the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown as defendants.
According to the complaint, administrators violated Grandson Rudolph’s rights under Title IX, which bars sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools. It also asserts three state-law claims: negligence, negligent supervision, and negligent training, supervision, discipline, hiring, and retention.
The Rudolphs are requesting a jury trial. They are seeking a declaration that the school violated the student’s rights, an order barring retaliation against the family, and financial compensation for the alleged harm — including emotional distress and reputational damage — along with attorney fees.
During the 2023-2024 school year, Grandson Rudolph — then an out gay freshman — endured daily abuse from football players, including homophobic slurs, physical intimidation, and having food thrown at him hard enough to leave a visible red mark. The mistreatment continued beyond school grounds.
The filing also alleges that a religious education teacher, Nannette Jacobs, joined in the abuse by making comments about the student’s appearance. Rudolph says other teachers witnessed the behavior but took no meaningful action to stop it, despite his multiple complaints to Damore, the assistant principal.
Grandmother Rudolph made 20 calls to the school over an 11-week span without any resolution. One reported incident at a McDonald’s involved football players mocking both the student and his grandmother. When she brought the incident to school staff, including head football coach Daniel Reardon, she was met with hostility and received no help.
As a result of the ongoing abuse and the school’s inaction, Grandson Rudolph transferred to another school. He is now in weekly counseling and is expected to continue receiving mental health support.
The school declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit.
The Rudolph filing is the third federal lawsuit accusing Ursuline High School and several administrators and coaches of ignoring repeated reports of bullying, harassment, and assault.
Subodh Chandra, the attorney representing plaintiffs in all three cases, says additional lawsuits may be filed as more victims and witnesses come forward.
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