Parents Sue Municipality After Daughter’s Suicide

Monica and Bengt Frantzen are suing Sola municipality in Norway, believing the municipality failed to protect their 12-year-old daughter, Emely, from severe bullying. Emely took her own life roughly three years ago after enduring prolonged mistreatment at Dysjaland skule. Her parents state the school created twelve activity plans intended to foster a safe learning environment, but these plans were similar, poorly evaluated, and ultimately ineffective.

The couple argues Sola kommune knew of the bullying—including physical assault and online harassment—but did not intervene adequately, nor did they acknowledge a lack of expertise in handling such a serious case. Professor Marie-Lisbet Amundsen testified that Emely should have received speech therapy as early as kindergarten, and that later diagnoses of depression and an eating disorder stemmed from the bullying.

The municipality maintains it fulfilled its obligations under the Education Act and points to a report from the State Administrator which found no grounds for criticism of the school. The parents acknowledge the legal battle is emotionally draining, but hope it will lead to answers and prevent similar tragedies. The work of uncovering what happened continues.