On Wednesday, September 13, a legal resolution was reached in San Moreno Valley, California, when the Moreno Valley Unified School District agreed to a $27 million settlement with a family who lost their son to a bullying incident at his middle school on Sept. 16, 2019.
Diego Stolz was just 13 years old at the time of his death.
Two teens, both 13 at the time of the incident, were found guilty of manslaughter and assault charges in juvenile court. A Riverside County judge sentenced them to 47 days in jail, in addition to community service and mandatory therapy.
Taylor & Ring LLP, representing the Stolz family, emphasized the unprecedented nature of this settlement, highlighting it as the largest ever in a US school bullying case.
In a Facebook post, the attorneys detailed the harrowing incident where Diego, described by many as the “sweetest nicest kid,” was confronted by the bullies. Heeding advice against fighting in school, Diego put his hands to his side, only to be sucker-punched by the two assailants.
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the school district in the wake of Diego’s death. The family maintains that Diego had voiced his concerns about the consistent bullying to school administrators.
However, despite promises of disciplinary action, including suspensions, no such measures were taken. Through their statement, Taylor & Ring underscored the urgency for all US schools to take bullying complaints seriously, reiterating the importance of ensuring student safety.
The gravity of the situation is further intensified by the fact that the assault on Diego was captured on video and subsequently spread across various social media platforms.
The distressing footage depicts the bullies ambushing Diego from behind, causing him to hit his head against a concrete pillar. Unrelentingly, the assailants persisted in their attack. A grave brain injury claimed Diego’s life just nine days after the incident.