INDIANAPOLIS — The parents of an 11-year-old Jennings County girl who died by suicide last year have filed a federal lawsuit against the Jennings County School Corp., alleging school officials failed to protect their daughter from bullying, sexual harassment and abuse at school despite repeated warnings leading up to her death.
Benjamin and Sarah Cook, the parents of Brooklyn Cook, filed a civil complaint on Feb. 17 in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, alleging, among other things, wrongful death, negligence, as well as violations of Title IX and the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the 14th Amendment.
Brooklyn Cook, 11, a fifth grader at North Vernon Elementary School, died by suicide in February 2025, according to the lawsuit.
Jennings County School Corp., Superintendent Nicole Johnson, North Vernon Elementary School Principal Leonard Collett, former North Vernon Elementary School Principal Nicholas Hill, teachers Pamela Kelly and Judy Alford and guidance counselors Kelli Gambrel and Mary Driver are named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The complaint alleges that Brooklyn Cook was “repeatedly subjected to severe and pervasive bullying, harassment and sexual abuse by two male students” during the 2024-2025 school year at North Vernon Elementary School.
The same male students, who are not named in the lawsuit, had allegedly bullied and harassed her the previous school year but were removed from her classroom after their behavior was reported to school administrators, the complaint states. However, the two male students were allegedly placed in the same class as her again the following school year.
“Shortly thereafter, the same male students, along with additional male students resumed and escalated the bullying Brooklyn experienced in fourth grade,” the complaint states. “…During the 2024-2025 school year the bullying and harassment were ongoing and occurred nearly every day leading up to Brooklyn’s death. …In addition to verbal abuse, Brooklyn was subjected to inappropriate sexual touching by male students.”
“The bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct directed at Brookyln was repeatedly reported to school officials,” the complaint further states.
During the 2024-2025 school year, the male students allegedly called Brooklyn Cook names, ridiculed her about her weight and repeatedly told her she needed to kill herself, the complaint states. On multiple occasions, the male students allegedly inappropriately touched her without consent, including an incident in which a male student allegedly grabbed her buttocks, according to the complaint. The same male student allegedly engaged in similar conduct toward other female students.
One of Brooklyn Cook’s friends allegedly heard multiple male students tell her to kill herself and reported it to Kelly, a teacher, and Gambrel, a guidance counselor, according to the complaint.
In another instance, a friend allegedly showed Gambrel a text message in which a male student told Brooklyn Cook, “(expletive) you, kill yourself, I (expletive) hope you die in a (expletive) show you dumb (expletive) whore.” Brooklyn Cook allegedly responded that she would kill herself, the lawsuit states.
The complaint alleges the Gambrel said she would report the message to the principal, but the male student who allegedly sent the message was never disciplined.
The lawsuit further alleges that Superintendent Johnson and Principal Collett “had actual knowledge that male students were inappropriately touching and sexually abusing female students” at (North Vernon Elementary School), including Brooklyn Cook … yet failed to take any reasonble action.”
The complaint further alleges that no Title IX investigation was conducted and that school officials were allegedly “deliberately indifferent” to student harassment. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and other education programs that receive federal funds.
The parents allege that despite repeated reports of bullying, sexual harassment and threats of suicide, school officials failed to remove the male students from classrooms, discipline them or otherwise stop the conduct.
In one instance, Brooklyn Cook allegedly told Kelly that she was going to kill herself. Kelly allegedly responded, “Why would you do that? … it won’t make it better,” or words to that effect, according to the complaint.
In another instance, Brooklyn Cook allegedly posted on TikTok in November 2024 “that she didn’t … want to be sexually assaulted at school anymore.” A teacher’s assistant at North Vernon Elementary School allegedly reported the post to Driver, a guidance counselor.
Driver allegedly informed the teacher’s assistant that she would report the post to Gambrel and have the matter addressed, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit also alleges negligent hiring, training and retention, claiming the school corporation failed to properly train staff on responding to bullying, sexual harassment and reports of suicidal threats and ideation.
“Defendants’ negligence in supervising and training Defendants Kelly, Alford, Gambrel and Driver was the proximate cause of Brooklyn’s injuries and damages,” the complaint states.
The parents are seeking damages and are represented by Indianapolis law firm CohenMalad LLC.
Claims made in filing a lawsuit represent only one side of the case and may be contested in later court action.
