Tennessee school district sued over troubled teen's fatal fall from bus window

By Jim Greene

Published on October 21, 2005

According to the suit, Rocky Dockery, who was being treated for depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, died in a Chattanooga hospital Oct. 2, 2004, the day after he climbed out the window of a school bus traveling at 45 miles per hour and fell to the ground.

The suit also claims that Dockery was subjected to physical and mental abuse by classmates, and that school officials made no effort to ensure his safety, although they had documentation from psychiatrists and psychologists about his condition. A plaintiffs' attorney said school officials asked that Dockery's medication be reduced because is made him sleepy in class.

Defendants' attorney Michael Mills declined to comment on the case before a response was filed with the court.

Bus driver Ada Hastings is accused of negligence in the suit for not allowing Dockery to get off the bus when he asked to be let off closer to his grandparents' house than a regular stop. Dockery's grandfather said the driver had honored similar requests in the past.

A fellow student told investigators that Dockery climbed out the window after saying he would hang from the window frame until the bus stopped, but that he lost his grip and fell.

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