Father who lost son to suicide sues Duluth School District

Lincoln Park Middle School in Duluth, MN. Photo: Duluth, MN School District.

Duluth, Minn. (AP) — The father of a Duluth middle school student who took his own life is suing the school district, claiming it failed to protect his son from bullying.

Thirteen-year-old Tristan Seehus killed himself in February of 2015. His father, Todd Seehus, says other students called his son a "freak" and shoved him into lockers at Lincoln Park Middle School because they mistakenly thought he was gay. It says the Duluth School District's failure to address the bullying amounted to discrimination. The complaint says the district ignored and diminished the abuse.

The Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/29Vkasr ) says Seehus is seeking damages and an order for the school district to improve its response to similar situations.

The district said Tuesday its schools work to create an environment "where all students are treated with respect."

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – July 20, 2016 @ 7 a.m.