Des Moines Public Schools is not liable in a lawsuit accusing it of contributing to a teen's suicide, a Polk County judge ruled. Leilani Gonzalez, 13, died by suicide in March 2023. Her mother, Danielle Yonemura, sued the school district in 2025, claiming her child, who at times identified as nonbinary, experienced bullying from students and teachers related to her identity. She also claimed her child faced disproportionate and repeated suspensions from Harding Middle School that left her isolated and contributed to her taking her own life. Phil Roeder, a spokesman for DMPS, said the district "appreciate(s) the Court’s careful consideration of this matter and their granting of summary judgment." Tap the link in our bio for more on this story. #Iowa #IAed #DMPS #DesMoines