YOUNGSTOWN An attorney representing a former student and his grandmother fired back at Ursuline High School on Monday, criticizing the school's public statement regarding a new federal civil rights lawsuit alleging bullying and discrimination.

Attorney Subodh Chandra issued a statement claiming the school's response was "disrespectful to victims" and failed to address the core allegations that administrators ignored pleas for help.

The lawsuit, filed Monday, claims a gay freshman student faced repeated harassment, including homophobic insults and a physical assault, during the 2023-24 school year. The complaint says the student's grandmother reported the issues without the school taking effective action. The student has since transferred to another school.

Ursuline High School released a statement earlier Monday calling the new allegations "extremely upsetting and unacceptable" if true. The school also affirmed that its records indicate administrators "handled the alleged concerns correctly under our policies and procedures."

Chandra focused on the school's use of the phrase "if true," stating the school's own response "admits administrators knew" of the family’s concerns.

“Ursuline admits that ‘Ursuline’s administration was aware of the alleged concerns involving this student and family’ yet in the same breath claims its records indicate administration handled the alleged concerns correctly,” Chandra's statement read.

The attorney questioned the effectiveness of the school’s actions, claiming 20 phone calls from the grandmother to the administration went unreturned.

"If Ursuline administrators addressed the concerns, then why did the bullying not stop? And why did the child have to seek refuge in another school?" Chandra asked.

Chandra also addressed a section of the school's statement that described the legal claims as unproven allegations often cast in "sensational and melodramatic language" as a legal tactic.

The attorney referred to this defense as the "last refuge of scoundrels," adding that the lawsuit is the third filed against Ursuline. Previous lawsuits have alleged instances of extreme sexual abuse and hazing within the football program and tolerance of sexual harassment against another student.

The attorney stated that the diocese, which oversees the school, should not allow officials to "hide behind unnamed Ursuline officials" and release statements that he considers insulting to the victims.

The school has not offered further comment, citing the sensitivity of the situation and the requirements of the legal process.