Kids can be cruel, but adults can intentionally tort

[texaslawchick]

I saw this article today about the death of Megan Meiers (more information here), and I couldn't help but make comparisons to my own pre-adolescence.

Megan's story starts out as the typical "the Internet wants your daughters" scare story that Allyson talks about in Vampire People. Or, come to think of it I, Robot, You, Jane. An awkward 13

Comments

[jasheffe]

So...from a legal standpoint...can the Drew's be held accountable as driving Megan to kill herself as well as aiding and abetting the other kids into a potential criminal action?

[texaslawchick]

I don't think criminal, and I don't think anyone who posts anything on the internet would want criminal, outside maybe inducing minors to have sex.

But there's such a thing as suing someone for "intentional infliction of emotional distress." I think it's likely that the elements of that are there, especially since Megan's parents can show that the Drews actions were intentional, pretty outrageous, caused distress, and that there were damages. I don't know whether or not that tort is available in Missouri, but given the publicity this case has gotten in the last few days, I suspect that there are a lot of lawyers now offering their services to the Meirs family.

[jasheffe]

I read the articles (thanks for all of the links!) and I'm seriously outraged over it. I can understand kids doing it because kids are vicious...but parents stooping to that level and enlisting other kids to help? I'd love to see MySpace sue them for misuse of the service (ToS) but I know that wouldn't happen.

[twistedcat]

are you sure? maybe someone should put a bug in their ear about it... of the "you might want to spin this more in your favor" variety...

[tourogal]

Oh God.

and people look at me funny for not letting my kids on the internet without me standing over them.

my heart just broke into more pieces than i knew it could.

[samtosha]

Dude has monitored and limited access to internet and it is on the computer i n the living room. My kid is 17 and there is just too much that he can get into at this point in life. I do not blame you one bit!!

[samtosha]

I think we all had a "Louise". I too had boobs, curves and my period early; it all started when I 11. I was 13 when Steve Kovzan and his friends thought it would be funny for them to play a joke on me and tell me that Steve liked me. We moved in the middle of 7th grade and I was the new kid in the school. It was hell and they were mean kids. I could not imagine being a teenager today. When I first heard about this story, I thought I was not hearing or processing the situation correctly. After some times and some processing, I am livid. Truly livid and disgusted.

[rainbow]

what i dont understand is how the drews are not being held accountable. they are grownups and they targetted and abused a 13 year old so badly she killed herself. how is that not criminal? it is so horrifying and frustrating :(

[suzannemarie]

I was reading about that situation this morning and was just enraged. What's sad is that her parents seemed to be doing just about everything right--they monitored her internet use, they tried to be realistic with her about "Josh," and it still went out of control.

But the thing that infuriates me more than anything else is a parent perpetrating such a cruel hoax on a thirteen year old girl. She could have set an example for her daughter, like say, teaching her how to rise above her own hurt feelings move on (from whatever caused the dispute), or she could have behaved like a thirteen year old best friend to her daughter. She chose the latter and it's inexcusable. I don't feel one shred of sympathy for any criticism that hoaxter receives.