Suit Blames School and Bullies for Girl’s Anorexia, Cites Title IX

A lawsuit filed against the Pittsburgh Public Schools claims a straight-A student developed anorexia because bullies taunted the girl about her weight and school officials did nothing to stop it.

The suit filed by lawyer Edward Olds says the girl was bullied in sixth and seventh grade, the Associated Press reports. The school is accused of violating Title IX, the anti-discrimination law most often used by female students seeking equal athletic opportunities.

Tom Hutton, senior staff attorney for the National School Boards Association, told AP that Title IX bullying suits are becoming more common, although he has never seen a suit linking bullying to anorexia.

The suit says the unidentified girl entered an anorexia treatment program in February 2008 when her weight became dangerously low. She is now in private school.

The school district has denied liability, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.