Family of bullied teen who committed suicide plans to sue school district

YUCAIPA, Calif. (FOX 11) - The family of a Riverside County teen girl who hanged herself following years of bullying plans to file a lawsuit against the school district.

Rosalie Avila's family is represented by attorney Brian Claypool, who announced Monday that the family intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District.

Parents and loved ones mourned the loss of 13-year-old Rosalie Avila who took her life last month.

They say they're searching for closure

Parents also saying they're searching for justice - saying they hope to sue the school district

"We have placed the Yucaipa Unified School District on notice that we intend on suing them for the wrongful death of Rosalie Avila." said their lawyer.

The Mesa View Middle Schooler took her own life last month after classmates relentlessly bullied her for years.

After suffering verbal abuse and constant taunting by fellow students, she started cutting herself in October, according to her parents.

They say classmates circulated videos calling her ugly.

"We saw a lot of changes - she didn't want to come to dinner and eat - she didn't want to be sitting with us," said Rosalie's mother.

Late November, she hanged herself in her room, leaving behind a journal detailing bullying she endured....and a suicide note where she apologized to her parents for being ugly.

Her family says school officials knew about her pain but did nothing.

"One thing we know that's really disturbing to us is the school are telling the kids, don't let your parents know whats going on. Don't tell your parents. Let us handle it. You didn't handle it," said her dad.

The suicide rate hit a four-year high for girls ages 15 - 19 in 2015 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Avila's family hopes to do something to turn those numbers around.

"We would like all schools to just create a law -that's going to make people accountable for their actions. Right now the bullies seem to have more rights than the kids getting an education," said her father.

Avila will be laid to rest on Thursday.