Bullying costs Hillel School $4-million

TAMPA -- A 12-year-old boy who got beat up on a school playground got $4-million today from a jury.

Danny Heidenberg sued Hillel School of Tampa after a schoolyard bully tackled him and broke his arm. The injury left him with permanent paralysis in his hand; he's unable to play the piano or type.

Heidenberg's parents, both doctors in Hillsborough County, wanted jurors to validate their concerns about bullying, said their attorney, David Tirella.

Tirella said the school ignored the parents' prior complaints about how the bully was taunting their son with offensive names and slurs. On Jan. 29, 2004, teachers went inside before the students, leaving Danny prone to the bully's attack, Tirella said.

"They should have taken it seriously," Tirella said. "It would not have been allowed to escalate from verbal taunts to an attack."

The jury award, which follows a week-long trial, goes to Danny and his parents.

-- Colleen Jenkins, Times staff writer