Photo: Attorney John Gomez announces legal claim against the Coronado Unified School District joined by the family of Gabriel Palacios and several Coronado community members
By Shane Harris, Director of Communications Gomez Trial Attorneys
CORONADO, Calif. — The family of 13-year-old Gabriel Palacios, a Coronado Middle School student who died by suicide earlier this year, has filed a legal claim against the Coronado Unified School District (CUSD), alleging that school officials failed to protect their son from bullying and neglected to provide adequate support for his disabilities.
The claim, filed by prominent civil rights attorney John Gomez, accuses the district of negligence, disability discrimination, and violations of Gabriel’s civil rights under California law. It is the first formal step before a potential lawsuit.
A Promising Life Cut Short
Gabriel Palacios was known by classmates and family as a bright, kind-hearted boy who loved sports and spending time near the water in his hometown of Coronado. But in the months before his death, Gabriel struggled with severe bullying after a Snapchat video incident circulated among peers.
The Palacios family says the harassment intensified despite their repeated pleas to the school for help. Gabriel, who had been diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome and ADHD, was also navigating the challenges of middle school with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) intended to ensure academic and emotional support.
According to the claim, school administrators were aware that Gabriel was being bullied yet took little action to protect him. Instead, the family alleges, the district disciplined Gabriel harshly for minor incidents — including suspending him for possessing a “wine key” bottle opener found in his fanny pack — without considering his disabilities or behavioral accommodations.
“Gabriel was asking for help in every way he could,” attorney John Gomez said during a press conference last week. “The school district had multiple opportunities to intervene and protect this child, and they failed. That failure cost Gabriel his life.”
The Legal Claim
Filed in September 2025, the claim outlines multiple allegations against the Coronado Unified School District, including:
- Failure to protect Gabriel from known bullying and harassment after reports were made to staff.
- Failure to investigate or take corrective action following the Snapchat incident that sparked widespread teasing.
- Improper disciplinary actions that ignored Gabriel’s disabilities and IEP protections.
- Negligence and lack of training among school employees responsible for student safety and special education compliance.
The claim seeks damages for emotional distress, loss of companionship, and other harms suffered by Gabriel’s parents, who say their son’s death was preventable.
The Palacios Family’s Mission for Change
For Gabriel’s parents, the legal action is not only about accountability but about preventing future tragedies.
“Gabriel was a loving son who deserved protection and compassion,” said a family spokesperson. “No other child should feel so alone or so unprotected in a place that’s supposed to keep them safe.”
Civil rights attorney John Gomez echoed that sentiment, saying the case is about systemic failure — not just one school.
“This is about how schools across the country respond when children are being bullied and when students with disabilities need help,” Gomez said. “We want Gabriel’s story to drive change.”
The Palacios family hopes their fight will spark stronger protections for students facing bullying and mental health challenges — ensuring no other family endures the same heartbreak.