NJ family sues school officials after teen daughter kills herself over brutal hallway beating

The family of Adriana Kuch, the teen who took her own life last February just days after being brutally beaten by a group of classmates at Central Regional High School in Berkeley Township, New Jersey, has filed a lawsuit against school officials.

Kuch's father, Michael, alleged that they were well aware of the physical and verbal bullying his daughter endured and failed to address the situation before it was too late.

According to NBC4, Kuch filed his lawsuit on Monday in the Superior Court of New Jersey in Ocean County. It names the Central Board of Education, school superintendent, school principal, an anti-bullying specialist, and other school officials as defendants.

Attorney William Krais said in a statement that Michael and the Kuch family "have experienced so much heartache and tragedy already, and the gross negligence of school officials – followed by the superintendent’s cruel, insensitive, and defamatory remarks – only compound their pain."

"It is the defendants' job to provide a safe and secure environment for the students at Central Regional High School," he continued. "They catastrophically failed Adriana, leading to the emotional distress, humiliation, and embarrassment that ultimately caused her to take her own life. It's high time the school and those involved are held accountable for their actions."

On February 1, 2023, four students allegedly attacked Kuch, leaving her bruised and bloodied on the floor. The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral after being posted online.

She took her life two days later.

Three of the alleged attackers were subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, while a fourth was charged with aggravated assault. They were charged as juveniles.

Following Adriana's suicide, now-former school district superintendent Triantafillos Parlapinades blamed her action on "poor choices," and suggested she was an addict. He resigned following backlash.

"Adriana was the light of our lives, and one year after her horrific and needless death, we are still waiting for justice," Kuch said a year after his daughter's passing. "It's clear this school has a serious bullying problem that none of the school administrators care to admit or address."