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Federal judge peppers lawyer with questions in Bedford County leaf-that-wasn't-pot lawsuit
Casey: Federal judge peppers lawyer with questions in Bedford County leaf-that-wasn't-pot lawsuitPosted: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 10:00 pm
By Dan Casey [email protected] 981-3423
Perhaps you recall the case of R.M.B., the sixth-grader in Bedford Middle School’s gifted-and-talented program. Last year he got suspended from school for 364 days after an assistant principal caught him with a leaf that was not pot.
He and his parents, schoolteachers Bruce and Linda Bays, are suing Bedford County schools and the Bedford County sheriff. Filed by Roanoke lawyer Mel Williams, the lawsuit alleges authorities violated R.M.B.’s constitutional rights when they kicked him out of school last September and pressed marijuana possession charges — after the leaf field-tested negative three times.
The possession charge was dropped in November for lack of evidence, but the suspension remained in effect. R.M.B. and his parents filed suit in February, and the school system allowed him to return to a different school in March. ... But the ordeal caused R.M.B. to withdraw socially and he’s been under a psychiatrist’s care for anxiety and depression.
The lawsuit is proceeding. And Tuesday, a federal judge reacted with uncharacteristic and blatant skepticism when the lawyer representing Bedford County schools and the sheriff argued the case should be tossed out of court.
By Dan Casey [email protected] 981-3423
Perhaps you recall the case of R.M.B., the sixth-grader in Bedford Middle School’s gifted-and-talented program. Last year he got suspended from school for 364 days after an assistant principal caught him with a leaf that was not pot.
He and his parents, schoolteachers Bruce and Linda Bays, are suing Bedford County schools and the Bedford County sheriff. Filed by Roanoke lawyer Mel Williams, the lawsuit alleges authorities violated R.M.B.’s constitutional rights when they kicked him out of school last September and pressed marijuana possession charges — after the leaf field-tested negative three times.
The possession charge was dropped in November for lack of evidence, but the suspension remained in effect. R.M.B. and his parents filed suit in February, and the school system allowed him to return to a different school in March. ... But the ordeal caused R.M.B. to withdraw socially and he’s been under a psychiatrist’s care for anxiety and depression.
The lawsuit is proceeding. And Tuesday, a federal judge reacted with uncharacteristic and blatant skepticism when the lawyer representing Bedford County schools and the sheriff argued the case should be tossed out of court.
3 replies
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Good for the judge and parents. HANG that damn school district for maintaining the suspension.
