Teen’s Death Leads to Lawsuit and $5.4 Million Verdict
The family of Nathan Bruno, a 15-year-old who died by suicide in 2018, has been awarded $5.4 million after a jury found that his high school football coach, Ryan Moniz, and several school administrators were negligent in handling a series of incidents leading up to the tragedy. The jury concluded that Moniz’s actions were a direct cause of Bruno’s death, holding him and the Portsmouth School District financially accountable for the loss.
Nathan’s father, Richard Bruno, declined to comment on the decision, while Moniz did not respond to a request for comment.
Allegations of Pressure and Negligence
The case centered around allegations that Moniz, then the football coach at Portsmouth High School, pressured Nathan Bruno to name other students involved in sending harassing messages to the coach. According to the family, Moniz also enlisted other football players to pressure Bruno, exacerbating the teen’s distress.
The jury’s ruling determined that Moniz’s actions were negligent and contributed significantly to the circumstances that led to Nathan’s suicide. As a result, the $5.4 million award — which includes interest since the boy’s death — is to be paid by the school district.
Previous Cases of School Accountability in Suicides
This case is not the first instance where a school district has been held accountable for a student’s suicide. In 2023, a Utah school district agreed to a $2 million settlement after a 10-year-old Black, autistic girl took her life following persistent bullying by classmates.
The verdict in Bruno’s case prompted Portsmouth’s School Committee to remove Moniz as football coach, though he remains listed as a teacher on the district’s website. In response to Nathan’s death, Rhode Island’s legislature passed a law in 2021, named in honor of Bruno, that mandates all public school districts implement suicide prevention policies and train staff in suicide awareness.
Legal Allegations and Failures by School Officials
Bruno’s family’s lawsuit named the coach, the town of Portsmouth, and several school administrators, alleging that they failed in their duty of care to Nathan. The suit claims that their actions created emotional and psychological stress for Nathan in the weeks leading up to his death. Among the alleged failures were not informing his parents about a police investigation involving their son, reassigning Nathan to a different physical education class without notifying his family, and allowing Coach Moniz to pressure him without proper oversight.
The lawsuit also accused Jamestown Detective Derek Carlino of sharing confidential police information with Moniz, adding further stress to Nathan’s situation. A former principal and assistant principal at Portsmouth High School were also found negligent by the jury.
