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Teens are defendants in bullying suit

Nearly a dozen students and their parents have been brought into a lawsuit filed by a New Jersey teenager who accused two school districts of not doing enough to stop eight years of bullying.

A judge last week allowed 11 teens and their parents to become third-party defendants, a novel ruling that could have broader consequences when bullying is litigated. The judge and lawyers say it is the first time a New Jersey judge has been asked by a school district to add students as defendants in a bullying case.

‘‘As difficult as it is for my client, we’re very pleased with the message that the decision sends,’’ said Brian Cige, a lawyer for the now-18-year-old plaintiff. ‘‘There needs to be personal responsibility for both kids and their parents for their behavior.’’

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In a lawsuit filed last year, the teen contended that he was tormented from fourth grade until last year, when he graduated as a junior. The teen says he was harassed first for being overweight, then for being perceived as gay.

Over the years in the Flemington-Raritan Regional district, he said, bullies dumped pasta and sauce on his clothes, poked him with their fingers, threw balls at his midsection, and made fun of him on Facebook.

Associated Press