Two weeks before Christmas last year, Hailee Lamberth sent her parents a gleeful text message that she had just been named math student of the month.
That was around 2 p.m. Two hours later, the 13-year-old at White Middle School shot and killed herself. She left a note saying she hoped her death would help prevent bullying in the future.
Now, her parents have filed a wrongful death and defamation suit against the school district. Among other things, they allege state laws meant to safeguard pupils against bullying were ignored, leading to Hailee’s death.
Her father, Jason Lamberth, said the school told him they had no evidence of bullying against his daughter. But he found more information in her discipline file, which an anonymous tipster told him to request.
State laws demand a school inform a parent if bullying took place against their child. Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, wants to toughen the law to punish schools, teachers and the school district who don't follow the law.
Even 15 years ago, when Parks started introducing anti-bullying bills, he said the attitude of schools was to ignore bullying as a problem and "sweep it under the carpet." All these years later, he said, "there still are schools that don't seem to respond."
Parks will introduce legislation with Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel, D-Las Vegas, that would "bring consequences for those who fail to act."
A year after his daughter's death, Lamberth said it's hard to even get out of bed most days.
"Each day,I try to fill my mind with positive, happy thoughts," he said. "But it's not easy because she's not here."
GUEST
Jason Lamberth, father of Hailee Lamberth
David Parks, Nevada State Senator, D-Las Vegas
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