Family Sues Elementary School for Student Strip-Search
The Sampson County N.C. family of a 10-year-old boy who was strip searched a number of months ago is suing the Board of Education, claiming their son’s treatment was unreasonable and constituted an invasion of his privacy.
According to Fox News, the search was conducted because another student accused the boy of stealing money. He told his mother that a girl dropped some money and he picked it up to give to her.
The lawsuit claims that Teresa Holmes, assistant principal at Union Elementary School in Clinton, forced the boy to remove his shoes, socks, pants and shirt. She then felt along the waistband of the boy’s underpants. A male janitor was in the room during the search. No money was found. Later it was discovered under a lunchroom table.
Susan Warren, a spokeswoman for Sampson County schools, said that Holmes had not done anything wrong.
“The assistant principal was within her legal authority, her legal right, to do the search,” Warren told Fox News. She did say, however, that, “She may have been overzealous in her actions.”
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This news story brings up the issue of privacy and personal rights. To speak with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer contact Kelly & West today.