Atlanta, GA – Chennault Legal & Consulting Group has been retained by the family of 13-year-old Tavoris Johnson, a former student at Crawford Long Middle School. Ms. Cynteria Lomnick, Johnson’s mother, is demanding a comprehensive investigation into the May 3rd incident, during which her son was strangled, causing him to lose consciousness and memory. Chennault Legal & Consulting Group, specializing in civil rights litigation, is calling on the Atlanta Public School system to ensure appropriate termination, accountability, and compensation for the pain and suffering caused by this violation of students’ constitutional rights under the 14th Amendment.
On May 3rd, Mrs. Lomnick received a call from the school nurse informing her that her son had passed out due to an accident. Upon her arrival, she found her son unconscious and unable to speak clearly. The school nurse explained that Coach Jimeriez Samuel had brought Tavoris to the nurse’s station after his fall. Upon arriving at the school, Ms. Lomnick was transported to the nurses’ office, where she was told by Coach Samuel that Tavoris was running around the classroom with his friends. Tavoris suddenly fell and passed out while walking towards him. At the time of the incident, Tavoris had lost his short-term memory and, therefore, could not remember the events directly preceding his fall. Tavoris was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent several medical tests and was treated for his injuries. During the fall, Tavoris hit his face, resulting in a gash on his lip and a swollen face. Shortly after being released from the hospital, he began to receive his short-term memory back. He realized that he was strangled by Coach Samuel, who had come up behind him and put him in a headlock. Later that day, several friends called Tavoris and corroborated the version of events of him being strangled by the coach, causing him to pass out immediately. On May 17th, Founding Attorney Kianna Chennault sent a letter of representation to the Atlanta Public School System, requesting video evidence of the incident, which APS has yet to provide. On May 20th, Ms. Lomnick was contacted by the lead detective, who stated that the coach admitted to choking Tavoris but claimed it was an “accident.”
“There is no excuse for the way Atlanta Public Schools have handled this case involving student Tavoris Johnson, who was restrained and strangled by an APS teacher in an unprovoked attack. Instead of holding the teacher accountable for his actions, APS has lied and hid facts from Tavoris and his mother, Ms. Lomnick, to shield themselves from liability. APS has made it clear that it has propagated a culture of abuse, intimidation, and harassment of its students. We demand justice for Tavoris, who has a right to attend school without fear of excessive force or bullying from school officials.,” said Attorney Kianna Chennault, Esq.
Lead Attorney Kianna Chennault Esq. plans to file a Section 1983 lawsuit against APS, citing an assault by Coach Samuel as a violation of Tavoris’s constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment’s substantive due process clause. This clause protects students from excessive corporal punishment by public school officials. In this instance, the coach’s act of strangling Tavoris is both objectively excessive and indicative of malicious intent. Witnesses have confirmed that this was not an isolated incident, as Coach Samuel has previously strangled other children. Additionally, Chennault Legal & Consulting Group is holding APS liable under Monell’s liability for a pattern of inaction and deliberate indifference to the abuse, which the school’s administration failed to address despite knowing about the coach’s behavior. Lastly, Tavoris’s legal team is seeking a comprehensive review of the full Atlanta Public School System faculty and staff policies. Coach Samuel later mocked Tavoris by calling him “little pass outer.”
Following this incident, Tavoris Johnson is showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and is currently being treated by a therapist.
The demand letter calls for a comprehensive investigation into Coach Samuel regarding his abusive behavior towards Tavoris and other children; a mandatory de-escalation training to be completed by APS teachers and staff before the start of the 2024-2025 school year; and $1 million dollars in financial damages to Tavoris Johnson.
Atlanta Public School System is urged to respond in writing by July 15, 2024, with a resolution.
Chennault Legal & Consulting Group emphasizes the urgency of protecting children and families through integral school practices, transparency, and accountability.
About Chennault Legal & Consulting Group:
Chennault Legal and Consulting Group is a full-service firm offering litigation and transactional services specializing in Business Litigation and Civil Rights. The firm is committed to pursuing equal justice and achieving favorable outcomes for clients of excessive force, prosecutorial misconduct, and governmental corruption. Since its opening in January 2021, the firm has benefited hundreds of business owners in business formation, contract drafting, negotiation, and legal representation. Visit ChennaultLaw.com
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