The parents of a 10-year-old Greenfield boy, Sammy Teusch, who tragically died by suicide in May after enduring alleged bullying at school, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Greenfield-Central Schools.
Sammy, a fourth-grader, was found dead in his bedroom on May 5, 2024. His parents, Sam and Nicole Teusch, filed the lawsuit on December 17, 2024, in Hancock County Court against the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation and its board of trustees. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, with the Teusch family’s lawyers describing the abuse Sammy faced from classmates, and alleging the school failed to protect him despite numerous complaints from his family.
According to the lawsuit, Sammy was subjected to relentless bullying, which included being punched, choked, and even encouraged by fellow students to hang himself. Sammy’s parents claim that, despite the boy’s repeated requests for help, school officials ignored his pleas. Brian Grossman, a lawyer for the family, expressed that this legal action aims to hold the school accountable and ensure no other child suffers as Sammy did.
The lawsuit names district superintendent Dr. Harold Olin, along with five school employees, who, according to the Teusch family, were informed about the bullying but did nothing to intervene. The filing alleges that the bullying escalated over several months, with one student reportedly hitting Sammy with an iPad, causing a black eye, and another choking him until he “saw stars.” Other incidents described in the lawsuit include a group of students trapping Sammy in a bathroom and threatening him, as well as one student following Sammy and urging him to commit suicide.
Sammy’s parents allege that they made nearly 20 reports to Greenfield Intermediate School staff about the bullying, both in person and by phone, but were met with little action. Sam Teusch expressed his heartbreak over the situation, stating, “No parent should have to sit at work and worry if their child is being bullied – or as in Sammy’s case, abused and assaulted – while they are in school all day.”
Despite the Teusch family’s claims, Greenfield police have previously stated that there was some bullying, but not enough to find the school negligent. Superintendent Olin had also denied receiving any formal reports from the family regarding the bullying.
In response to the lawsuit, Olin stated the district would not be commenting further at this time. The investigation into Sammy’s death by Greenfield police is ongoing.