No one should experience bullying. Bullying may take a variety of forms, from verbal abuse to physical altercations. With the growth of the Internet, cyberbullying has become an easy means for bullies to target their victims. But whatever form it takes, bullying can result in lasting physical and emotional trauma.
Stephanie Ovadia is a critical advocate against bullying in all of its forms. She has given numerous lectures on the topic and is currently in the process of forming an anti-bullying nonprofit. If you or a loved one has experienced bullying, consider contacting the Law Office of Stephanie G. Ovadia for a free consultation.
Bullying
Bullying is essentially aggressive behavior that harms and/or humiliates another person. Often, it involves some sort of a power imbalance. Bullying can take physical or verbal forms. Physical bullying may involve fighting, pushing, spitting, and property destruction. Verbal bullying may consist of name-calling, rumor spreading, and threats. Victims of bullying behavior may experience either or both forms of bullying. It is not uncommon for bullying to begin in verbal form before graduating into physical forms.
Bullying is unfortunately common in school-aged children. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2013 about 22% of students aged 12 to 18 reported being bullied at school during the school year. Phrased differently, that means 1 in 5 students were subjected to bullying. Online, bullying can continue outside of the confines of school.
While bullying is most often prevalent in children, bullying can also occur in a wide variety of circumstances for adults. This includes bullying in the work place, the dating world, and online.
From a legal perspective, bullying is often handled through a variety of frameworks. There is no such thing as a uniform “bullying” lawsuit. Depending on the specific facts and circumstances involved, holding bullies and enablers accountable may be take a variety of different paths