Former student files suit against school board, ag teacher
A former Adair County High School student has filed a civil lawsuit against the board of education and a teacher stemming from an incident two years ago in the high school ag shop.
Bradley Eugene Bell, 19, filed the complaint May 19 in Adair Circuit Court against the school board and agriculture teacher Terry Harvey.
The complaint states that on April 23, 2008, when Bell was a minor, he was accosted by five other students in the ag shop, hung by his ankles from the ceiling or overhead structure, then dropped to the floor, causing injuries to his body.
The suit charges Harvey and the school board with negligence and carelessness for not providing proper supervision to students while on school grounds.
The complaint states that Bell has incurred medical expenses, pain and suffering, and will continue to experience pain and suffering for which he is entitled to compensation. The suit does not specify a particular amount of money being sought.
The Adair County Community Voice reported the incident in 2008. According to news reports, students Trayton Michael “Boomer” Lewis, Jordan Burton, Trent Jacoby Downey, and Wade Beard, all 18 at the time, were charged with a misdemeanor charge of wanton endangerment, 2nd degree.
The students were accused of tying up another student, age 16, while in an ag classroom.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the victim’s father, the students tied him by his feet and threw the cord over something then lifted him about four feet in the air before dropping him, causing head, neck and back injuries.
Another student, who was a juvenile at the time, was charged in the same incident.
The four 18-year-old students pleaded guilty to the charge and received a suspended sentence if they completed 100 hours of community service.
Court records could not be found on any of the cases except that of Downey, indicating that the misdemeanor convictions have since been expunged, a legal process where a conviction is erased from a person’s criminal record. County Attorney Jennifer Hutchison-Corbin said she could not confirm if the cases were expunged.
In the lawsuit filed May 19, Bell requests that the board and Harvey be held accountable for damages and requests a jury trial.
School superintendent Darrell Treece was contacted for this story but he chose not to comment. Calls were made to Bell’s home and to his attorney, Danny Butler. Bell’s father, Jimmy, said his family was advised by Butler to not comment.
By Sharon Burton
snburton@windstream.net
