The young son of NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson allegedly endured racial harassment, bullying and physical attacks while attending an elite Christian school in Southern California, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The California Post was the first to report this story.

The lawsuit alleges that Dickerson’s sixth-grade son, identified as DD in the complaint, was repeatedly subjected to racial slurs and other forms of harassment by classmates during the 2024-25 school year at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village.

The complaint accuses the private school of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violating California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act. The family alleges that school officials failed to adequately respond to repeated reports of harassment and bullying.

“His family repeatedly told Oaks Christian what was happening and asked the school to protect him,” Robert Glassman, the family’s attorney, told the California Post. “Instead of stopping the abuse, the school allowed it to continue.”

“No child should be subjected to racial harassment or physical violence at school while the adults entrusted with his safety fail to act,” he added.

Oaks Christian has disputed the allegations and said it will respond through the legal process.

Lawsuit Details Alleged Racial Harassment

According to the complaint, Dickerson’s son was repeatedly called the N-word by classmates, compared to an animal and given a racist nickname.

One student allegedly directed racial slurs at the sixth grader on multiple occasions, including during a school-sponsored field trip to a zoo. The lawsuit also alleges that the same student was known to carry a knife on campus, but administrators did not impose discipline for the alleged harassment or weapon.

Another incident allegedly occurred during lunch, when a female student struck DD in the head, took his food and poured out his water.

The complaint states that the school reviewed video footage and confirmed the assault occurred. However, the lawsuit alleges that the student was only spoken to and told not to repeat the behavior.

The complaint also describes an incident during music class in which students were discussing nicknames. One student allegedly suggested a racist nickname combining a racial slur with the Dickerson family name.

“When (DD) reported the ‘Ni–erson’ incident, his own teacher accused him of lying, in front of his peers,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit alleges that Dickerson and the boy’s mother met with Vice Principal Tamara Kuku and proposed steps to address the situation, including speaking with students about racist language and contacting the parents of those responsible. According to the complaint, the school failed to implement those measures.

DD eventually left Oaks Christian and enrolled at another school, the lawsuit states. He allegedly continues to experience emotional and developmental harm from the incidents.

Oaks Christian Responds to Lawsuit

Oaks Christian School is a private, nondenominational Christian college-preparatory institution in Westlake Village.

The school’s website lists annual tuition and fees of up to $47,930 for new students in grades five through 12, depending on the payment plan.

“Oaks Christian School is committed to the dignity of every student, consistent with our Christian faith. We are aware of the lawsuit. The school disputes the allegations regarding its conduct and will respond through the legal process,” a statement from the Office of the Head of School to The Post said.

“This matter involves minors, and out of respect for the privacy of all students involved, we will not comment on individual students or the specifics of the case,” the statement continued.

The lawsuit also points to previous allegations of racial discrimination at the school.

According to the complaint, more than 8,100 Oaks Christian alumni signed a petition in 2020 documenting alleged racism and discrimination experienced by Black students over multiple years.

The complaint also references separate litigation involving another Black former student who allegedly experienced racial slurs, a mock slave auction and threats of lynching while attending the school between 2021 and 2024.

Those allegations are separate from the claims made by Dickerson’s family.

Eric Dickerson’s Football Legacy

Dickerson, 66, is one of the most accomplished running backs in NFL history.

He spent much of his professional career with the Los Angeles Rams and Indianapolis Colts and remains the NFL’s single-season rushing record holder. In 1984, Dickerson rushed for 2,105 yards, surpassing O.J. Simpson’s previous record.

He also became the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in seven consecutive seasons.

When Dickerson retired in 1993, his 13,259 career rushing yards ranked second all-time. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Oaks Christian has also been attended by several notable athletes, including New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

The school has attracted prominent entertainment and sports families as well. Its alumni include Sofia Richie Grainge, daughter of singer Lionel Richie; Trey Smith, son of actor Will Smith; Nick Montana, son of NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana; and Trevor Gretzky, son of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

The lawsuit against Oaks Christian remains a set of allegations, and the school has said it intends to contest the claims through the legal process.