Lambda Legal

Summary

For four years Jamie Nobozny was subjected to relentless antigay verbal and physical abuse by fellow students at his public high school in Ashland, Wisconsin. Students urinated on him, pretended to rape him during class and when they found him alone kicked him so many times in the stomach that he required surgery. Although they knew of the abuse, school officials said at one point that Nabozny should expect it if he’s gay. Nabozny attempted suicide several times, dropped out of school and ultimately ran away. But he wanted to make sure that other students didn’t go through the same kind of nightmare. He sued his former school, but a trial courtTrial Court  Court that hears the original arguments in a case, may include a jury (more keywords) dismissed his lawsuit. Lambda Legal took over his case before a federal appeals court, which issued the first judicial opinion in the nation’s history finding that a public school could be held accountable for not stopping antigay abuse. The case went back to trial and a jury found the school officials liable for the harm they caused to Nabozny. The case then settled for close to $1 million.

Context

Around the time of our work on this case, one of many studies of gay-identified students in public schools found them nearly seven times more likely to have been threatened or injured with a weapon at school and four times more likely to attempt suicide. After our victory, Lambda Legal launched a groundbreaking educational and litigation campaign in defense of youth that the National Education Association recognized with its Award for Creative Leadership in Civil Rights.

Lambda Legal's Impact

This historic victory was the first legal challenge to antigay violence in public schools. The 1996 precedentPrecedent  A reported opinion of an appeals court that establishes the authority in the future on a given legal question (more keywords) on appealAppeal  To ask a higher court to reverse the decision of a trial court (more keywords), followed by the million-dollar verdict and settlement, electrified the nation’s education community and led to an explosion in legal advocacy for LGBTQ youth.

History

• October 1995 Federal district judge rules that a school cannot be held liable for the actions of students and that no equal protectionEqual protection  the constitutional right to have the same access and be treated equally by the law (more keywords) claim was presented by Nabozny’s case.
• December 1995 Lambda Legal takes on case for appeal and files opening briefBrief  A written legal argument submitted to the court(more keywords) with 7th Circuit CourtCircuit Court  (usually) any of the federal courts of appeals (more keywords) of Appeals.
• July 1996 Victory! Precedent-setting federal appellate courtAppellate court/Mid-level appeals court  A court with jurisdiction to review decisions of trial courts (more keywords) decision spells out the constitutional obligation of public schools everywhere to protect gay students from antigay abuse and sends the case back to the lower court.
• November 1996 Small-town jury finds school officials liable for failing to stop antigay violence against Nabozny. Before jury returns to determine amount of damages, officials offer to settle with an award of nearly $1 million for Nabozny.