Michigan family sues school district after it expelled son for 180 days over allegedly misunderstood ‘threat’

A Michigan school district is facing a lawsuit from the family of a student who says he was kicked out of school after being falsely reported for making a threat.

Cass City Public Schools and Superintendent Allison Zimba are defendants in the suit, accused of violating the student’s rights by overreacting to an accusation from another student that the boy said he had a gun, local station ABC12 reports.

According to the family’s lawyer, Keith Altman, the student never made such a claim, but was merely misheard. The family alleges the school was negligent and violated the boy’s constitutional rights.

The incident took place in the wake of the shooting at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, on Nov. 30, 2021.

Allegedly, the student was speaking to another student about the Oxford shooter leaving the office with a gun stowed in his bag. A third student misheard this conversation, according to Altman. 

“Somebody supposedly overhears the conversation, who wasn’t part of it, and claims that he said, ‘I have a gun in my bag,” said Altman. 

In response to the third student’s report, police came and investigated, searching the student and his bag. Ultimately, he was expelled for 180 days over the supposed threat. 

“For lack of a better term, this kid was crucified over this misperceived statement,” Altman said. 

Superintendent Zimba declined a request for comment from ABC12 on the four-count lawsuit.