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Suing Bullies

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - You want to stop the bullies? Bring in the lawyers.

A 17-year-old boy in New Jersey complained about being bullied because he was overweight. He felt that no measures were taken by the school district to prevent the bullying as required by the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights and so he sued the school.

Many have wondered - if laws allow the school to get sued for not preventing the bullying in some states - but why is it that the people actually responsible for the bullying, which is to say, the bullies - can't get sued? The answer, at least according to the court in New Jersey, is now: THEY CAN.

When the New Jersey student being bullied sued the school, the school turned around and sued the bullies for their role in the matter and a judge just decided that the case can proceed against the 13 teenagers accused.

Kind of makes you wonder why no one thought of that before. And while NO ONE wants more lawsuits, maybe the threat of having to pay money will be what's needed to combat the problem.

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