Parents Awarded $32 Million After Benton Police Officer Fatally Shoots Teenager

Little Rock, Arkansas – A jury has awarded $32 million to the parents of a teenager who was fatally shot by a Benton police officer in 2016. The weeklong trial concluded with the jury finding the city of Benton liable for $30 million and former Benton Police Chief Kirk Lane liable for $1 million. Officer Kyle Ellison, who fired the fatal shots, was cleared of claims of excessive force and assault and battery. The civil trial began on January 29 in Little Rock, focusing on the officer-involved shooting death of 17-year-old Keagan Schweikle. Responding to … Read more

Parents of Slain JSU Student File Lawsuit Against University, Alleging Neglect of Safety Measures

JACKSON, Miss. – The parents of a Jackson State University student who was killed on campus have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the university. Michele Hill Brown and Michael Brown are suing JSU on behalf of their son, 22-year-old Flynn Brown. The lawsuit claims that the university neglected Brown’s safety following prior incidents involving Brown and his roommate, Randall Smith, which ultimately led to his murder in December 2022. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation confirmed that Brown was shot and killed by Smith after a dispute over doughnuts in their dorm. Brown’s body was … Read more

Lawmakers, Parents, and Educators Gather to Discuss ‘Common Sense’ Gun Laws and School Safety in Iowa

Davenport, Iowa – In response to a recent shooting in Perry, Iowa, Iowa House Representative Ken Croken, a Democrat from Davenport, organized a forum at Davenport West High School. The forum brought together lawmakers, parents, and educators to discuss “common sense” gun laws and school safety. The attendees included State Senator Cindy Winckler, a Democrat from Davenport, as well as Trey Jackson, the legislative affairs director for March for Our Lives, Ben Layer, the crisis prevention coordinator for the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, and Kaleigh Rogers, the director of the local advocacy group “Moms … Read more

Parents in York County Sue School District and Principal for Failing to Report Alleged Sexual Assault of Young Girl on School Bus

YORK COUNTY, Pa. – A school district and its principal in York County are facing a lawsuit from parents who claim that they failed to report a case of alleged sexual assault on a school bus involving a five-year-old girl last year. According to the lawsuit filed on Feb. 1 in the Middle District of Pennsylvania Court, the Red Lion School District and Clearview Elementary School Principal Michael Langan allegedly did not report the incident, in which a male student reportedly assaulted the girl on Oct. 16. The lawsuit also alleges that both the district … Read more