A 14-year-old Christian student in Florida, who was allegedly told to stop taking his Bible to school after he was repeatedly attacked and bullied by students and teachers alike for his faith, has filed a lawsuit “seeking significant damages because the school has destroyed his educational experience.”
The Dhillon Law Group filed the 206-page lawsuit against Mater Academy, a public charter school in Hialeah Gardens, on behalf of Nicolas Ortiz through his parents, Rafael and Lourdes Ortiz, on Monday. “Mr. Ortiz is experiencing something that no American should ever have to experience,” Dhillon Law Group managing partner, Harmeet K. Dhillon, said in a statement.
“It’s bad enough that the school has done nothing to stop the bullying from his peers, but has gone as far as joining in on targeting Mr. Ortiz for simply practicing his faith.
This blatant violation of his first amendment rights is another example of how extreme so many in our education system have become, and why Dhillon Law Group is coming to Mr. Ortiz’s defense.” The Christian Post reached out to Mater Academy for comment Thursday, but no one was immediately available.
According to the complaint, Ortiz, who is a high school freshman, began attending Mater Academy Cutler Bay in 2018 and remained enrolled until January 2022. During his time at the school, the teen would often take his Bible to school to read during his free time in a bid to further his faith, the suit states.
However, many of his fellow students, school staff, and administrators did not like it. Several incidents detailed in the suit allege how hostile conditions became for Ortiz as he tried to live out his faith at the school.
“During a fall 2021 classroom discussion, Nicholas’ science teacher, Mr. Ardieta, singled out Nicholas in front of his peers and questioned him for believing in God. Mr. Ardieta insinuated that Nicholas was ignorant for believing in the Bible,” the suit said.
“When Nicholas attempted to defend his beliefs, Mr. Ardieta cut him off and said, in front of the class and during the classroom discussion, Nicholas should not believe the Bible.” Ortiz went on to experience similar attitudes toward his faith from students at the school who “regularly made disparaging comments” to him about what he believes. READ MORE
