Lawsuit

The Estate of Nathan Bronstein v. Latin School: A Landmark Bullying Prevention Case

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This appellate brief was filed by the Estate of Nathan “Nate” Bronstein, a 15-year-old student at the Latin School of Chicago who died by suicide in January 2022. The case centers on allegations that the school failed to comply with Illinois’ Bullying Prevention Act (BPA) and neglected its duty to protect and inform Nate’s parents after repeated reports of his distress, bullying, and cyberbullying.

The brief argues that Latin School:

  • Ignored warnings from the Illinois State Board of Education that its bullying policy was non-compliant with the BPA.
  • Withheld critical information from Nate’s parents, including that he had been assessed for suicidal ideation.
  • Failed to notify them of Nate’s report of being cyberbullied by certain classmates, despite a statutory duty to do so.
  • Recharacterized a clear bullying report as a  “social media incident” to avoid investigation and parental involvement.

On appeal, the Estate asks the Illinois Appellate Court to reverse the trial court’s dismissal of key claims, including:

  1. Wrongful death– arguing that Nate’s suicide was a foreseeable result of the school’s negligence.
  2. Violation of the Bullying Prevention Act– whether the BPA allows for an implied private right of action (an issue of first impression in Illinois).
  3. Breach of fiduciary duty and voluntary undertaking– claiming Latin assumed special responsibilities to safeguard Nate’s wellbeing.
  4. Intentional infliction of emotional distress– alleging the school’s reckless disregard of its duties caused severe harm.

The case raises important legal questions about whether Illinois schools, including private institutions, can be held directly liable under the Bullying Prevention Act, and whether failure to follow anti-bullying laws can form the basis for wrongful death and related claims.