This article discusses whether school officials or districts can be held liable for student suicides. Generally speaking, there are two legal theories that underlie suicide-related lawsuits: (1) negligence--a claim that the school failed to uphold a particular duty to the student and that such failure contributed to the student's death (legally…

As school activities proliferate, questions surface about educators' legal responsibilities. Litigants must establish evidence regarding recognizable legal duty, breach of a recognizable duty, proximate cause, or injury. Principals are responsible for providing adequate supervision; employing competent, efficient personnel; instructing adequately;…

Two legal theories inspire suicide-related lawsuits: tort claims of negligence and constitutional claims based on due process. A well-known case illustrates a middle-schooler's suicide and a district's negligence. Liability factors include duty, foreseeability, special relationship, danger creation, and immunity/contributory negligence. (MLH)