The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
A lawsuit filed in federal court Tuesday claims that a former Oscar Smith Middle School assistant principal caused emotional damage to a student when he authorized a strip search to find a cellphone.
Alonzo Price has filed suit in Norfolk federal court seeking $350,000 in damages from Samuel Kambar Khoshaba, who was an assistant principal at Oscar Smith in 2005. In the lawsuit, Price claims Khoshaba and a security guard took him to a room in the Chesapeake school on Feb. 22, 2005, and made him remove his clothes in an effort to find a cellphone. Khoshaba is now an assistant principal at Western Branch High School.
The search violated the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that protects citizens from unlawful search and seizure, the lawsuit says.
"Alonzo Price did become sick, sore, lame and disabled: he has suffered great physical pain, severe mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, psychological damage and extreme emotional distress...," according to the lawsuit.
The school security guard also is named in the suit. However, attorney Andrew Sacks said the name currently listed on the suit might be in error and that he plans to amend it and correct the name.
Khoshaba denies all the charges in an answer to the lawsuit.
Jeff Hampton (252)338-0159 jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com
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Censorship
I would like to thank The Pilot for censoring my remarks yeaterday. At no point was there anything but but what I feel was the truth submitted in my comment. I guess my feelings on the subject did not conform with their take on the story. Why even have a comment section. Daily Press here I come.
Comment deleted
Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Disparaging victim or family
There is no excuse
I went to school in VB in the late '70s. I believe paddling happened at my Jr. High School, but admittedly I never saw it happen and it never happened to me. That said, any school official who essentially forces a student to submit to a strip search should be removed from the school and fired. There is absolutely no excuse for that; male, female, or otherwise. If it happened to my child, I would be absolutely livid. If a weapon is suspected, or a student is possibly putting the student body at risk, the police should be called. School officials have absolutely no right to conduct any kind of bodily search of a student.
I'm not sure but
It seems to me that if this was a young woman instead of a young man in middle school, assumed to be under age, we would be talking child sex abuse.
I can't for the life of me think what I would do if I found the the principal of my son's middle school asked my 14 or 15 year old to take his clothing off in a school office without a parent present.
If they thought he had a weapon they would have called the police and the parents. But for a phone they want the child to disrobe?
Whatever the reason-if they made an already damaged child (which he sounds to be) do something like this then they deserve to be in jail for child abuse. and sued.
jmho
I am not comfortable
with a school administrator ordering a strip search on my son or daughter. If there is a significant legal problem that necessitates such action the administrator should have had law enforcement send out an officer or proper juvenile authorities.
It is inappropriate to have school administrators ordering strip searches of thirteen year old boys and girls.
Back in the day...
...we were actually paddled by our teachers in front of the entire class for reasons less than breaking a school policy. Believe me that was enough not to misbehave and show no respect for our teachers, the rules, the school system and the Principle. Unfortunately, the problem with not only our youth but also their parents (both generations) is with all the "rights" and as mentioned prior "lawsuits" there are no more immediate consequences so therfore some eventually learn by either prison or death. It is really sad :(
When?
Just when did you go to school?
I started 1st grade here in Norfolk in 1956 and no one in public school was allowed to spank a child. There have always been kids that were going to resist authority; we had plenty of hallway and behind the school
fights at Azalea Junior High(not a Middle School in sight then) and worse than that at Norview. Lots of kids got suspended and a few even got expelled. I think the difference is in lack of parents, period. I was terrifed that my parents would be called and I would get on restriction. Now, there isn't anyone at home for these kids; moms and dads work two jobs or one parent is absent or the kids live with grandparents or olders sibs. Too many latch key kids...
Wrong time, wrong place
I LEFT school, in 1951, from a midwestern small town. If a student didn't get paddled for an egregious act, the parents would be clamoring to know why not!
Sadly too typical these days
This situation is too typical these days: people suing for ridiculous reasons long after the fact just to fatten their pockets. This is another case that screams for tort reform in this country. It is no wonder we don't see innovative ideas coming from America anymore: too many people afraid of getting sued.
"Alonzo Price did become
"Alonzo Price did become sick, sore, lame and disabled: he has suffered great physical pain, severe mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, psychological damage and extreme emotional distress". He became sick, sore, lame, and disabled? And it took this long to bring about a lawsuit? The whole thing sounds lame and disabled.