CHICAGO — A federal jury awarded $750,000 in damages to the family of Jomaury Champ, a 15-year-old former student of Tilton Elementary School in Chicago, after he was subjected to a severe beating by an unauthorized visitor at the school in 2018. The verdict concluded a civil trial that scrutinized the responsibilities of the educational system and the psychological aftermath experienced by Champ, who was only a fourth grader at the time of the incident.
Champ departed from the courtroom before the delivery of the verdict on Wednesday, following a trial that emphasized the arguments over his mental health and the Board of Education’s failure to protect him from harm. His former homeroom teacher, Kristen Haynes, had permitted Juanita Tyler, a non-employee of Chicago Public Schools and an estranged relative unknown to Champ, to enter the school and engage in the distressing act.
The incident unfolded when Haynes, for reasons unclear, allowed Tyler access to the school premises at the start of the school day. She then led Champ to a bathroom, handed him over to Tyler, and exited, leaving Tyler to physically assault the boy using two belts she acquired from Haynes’ classroom supplies. This violent episode later resulted in Champ being hospitalized and diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, exacerbating his pre-existing condition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
During the trial, the defense argued that such physical punishment was not reflective of the culture at Chicago Public Schools. Board of Education attorney, Brian Kolp, contended that assigning liability to the district was unjust, asserting physical discipline was never condoned within the school culture. On the other hand, Tyler’s lawyer, Andrew Rima, urged the jury to dismiss the exaggerated damage claims and argued that the incident should not overshadow the boy’s lifelong struggles with ADHD.
Representatives for Champ painted a very different picture. Al Hofeld Jr., one of the attorneys for Champ’s family, described the incident as a day of “pure psychological terror.” He highlighted ongoing psychiatric symptoms that Champ continues to endure, which severely impacted his ability to lead a normal life. Julia Rickert, co-counsel, emphasized the severity of offenses against children and pointed out evidence suggesting premeditation on Haynes’ part regarding the incident.
Consequently, the jury found Haynes and Tyler, along with the Board of Education, responsible for inflicting emotional distress and engaging in a conspiracy to harm Champ. The trial not only addressed the damages but also brought to light the emotional and psychological toll on Champ over six years, featuring multiple recounts of his trauma during various legal proceedings.
Discussing the long duration and complexities of the legal process, Hofeld Jr. expressed relief and a sense of justice having been served with the verdict, which also mandates the Board of Education to cover the family’s legal expenses. These fees had accumulated since the initiation of the lawsuit in February 2019, as the case faced numerous delays and lacked any settlement proposals up until trial.
The verdict underscores the critical importance of safeguarding children within educational settings and holds school authorities accountable for the safety and wellbeing of their students. It also highlights the lasting impact of trauma on young individuals, stressing the imperative for schools to maintain stringent security protocols and ensure all staff actions align with the welfare of students.
As the family and legal team celebrate this legal victory, the effects of the case resonate beyond the courtroom, potentially influencing policy changes and practices in school environments across the nation to prevent such negligence and abuse in the future.