Morris v. Brighton Area School District et al
Case Summary
On April 29, 2022, Ryan Morris, (“Plaintiff”), represented by Zachary T. Runyan of Marko Law, PLLC, filed a civil rights lawsuit against Brighton Area School District, Dr. Matthew Outlaw, Gavin Johnson, Jody Renicker, Jennifer Sprys-Tellner, Henry Vecchionim, Mrs. Levine, and John Doe 1-10 (collectively, “Defendants”), seeking compensatory and punitive damages for alleged education discrimination. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, with Judges Paul D. Borman and Anthony P. Patti presiding.
In the complaint, the plaintiff claimed, “On or about May 10, 2019, Troy Maynor, Jr., a student at Brighton High School, texted Plaintiff Ryan Morris asking her to stay after school and meet him at ‘Pooh’s corner’, which was located in Brighton High School’s building.”
Plaintiff then claimed, “Ms. Morris stayed after school that day and went to ‘Pooh’s corner’. While waiting near the bathroom, a teacher noticed Ms. Morris loitering in the hallway.”
Plaintiff then alleged, “The teacher took no action despite being aware of Plaintiff’s disabilities and Plaintiff’s common practice of riding the bus to and from school. Instead, the teacher left Ms. Morris alone in the hallway and left the school building.”
Plaintiff further alleged, “Maynor tricked Ms. Morris into going into one of Defendant Brighton High School’s bathrooms.”
The plaintiff then alleged, “In the bathroom, Maynor had sex with Ms. Morris against her will.”
The plaintiff additionally alleged, “Defendant Brighton Public Schools had a duty to protect its students, which was breached when it failed to protect Ms. Morris from sexual assault, sexual abuse, and harassment from students.”
The plaintiff additionally alleged, “In or around May 2019, prior to Morris’ sexual assault, Brighton school officials caught Maynor having sex with another student, Destiny in the same bathroom.”
Plaintiff further alleged, “On August 28, 2019, Brighton held an expulsion hearing related to Maynor. The hearing panel consisted of a member of the District’s Board of Education and four administrators. They recommended Maynor be reinstated but suspended pending the outcome of the criminal investigation by law enforcement.”
Plaintiff then alleged, “As a result of this sexual assault and retaliation, Ms. Morris has suffered and continues to suffer severe emotional damage.”
Plaintiff presented eleven claims for relief, including claims for the discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and sex discrimination under violation of the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act.
In the prayer for relief, the plaintiff requested an award for damages for emotional distress, pain and suffering, exemplary damages along with pre- and post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees and expenses.
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Case Details
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Case Number:
2:22-CV-10925
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Filing Date:
04/29/2022
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Case Status:
Pending - Other Pending
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Case Type:
Civil Right - Education Discrimination
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Court:
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Courthouse:
Judge Details
Presiding Judge
Paul D. Borman
Referral Judge
Anthony P. Patti
Party Details
Plaintiff
Ryan Morris
Defendants
Brighton Area School District
Dr. Matthew Outlaw
Gavin Johnson
Jody Renicker
Jennifer Sprys-Tellner
Henry Vecchioni
Levine
John Doe 1-10
Attorney/Law Firm Details
Plaintiff Attorney
Zachary T. Runyan
Attorney at Marko Law, PLLC
1300 Broadway Street, Ste Fifth Floor
Detroit, MI 48226
Defendant Attorneys
Timothy J. Mullins
Attorney at Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C.
101 W. Big Beaver Rd., 10Th Floor
Troy, MI 48084
Travis M. Comstock
Attorney at Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C.
101 W Big Beaver Rd., Suite 1000
Troy, MI 48084
Court Documents
(#1) COMPLAINT filed by All Plaintiffs against All Defendants with Jury Demand. Plaintiff requests summons issued. Receipt No: AMIEDC-8894134 - Fee: $ 402. County of 1st Plaintiff: Livingston - County Where Action Arose: Livingston - County of 1st Defendant: Livingston. [Previously dismissed case: No] [Possible companion case(s): None] (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
(#2) SUMMONS Issued for * All Defendants * (KBro) (Entered: 05/04/2022)
(#3) SUMMONS Issued for *John Doe 1-10* (KBro) (Entered: 05/04/2022)
(#4) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Brighton Area School District waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
(#5) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Gavin Johnson waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
(#6) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Levine waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
(#7) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Matthew Outlaw waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
(#8) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Jody Renicker waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
(#9) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Jennifer Sprys-Tellner waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
(#10) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Henry Vecchioni waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
(#11) NOTICE of Appearance by Timothy J. Mullins on behalf of Brighton Area School District, Gavin Johnson, Levine, Matthew Outlaw, Jody Renicker, Jennifer Sprys-Tellner, Henry Vecchioni. (Mullins, Timothy) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
(#12) NOTICE of Appearance by Travis M. Comstock on behalf of Brighton Area School District, Gavin Johnson, Levine, Matthew Outlaw, Jody Renicker, Jennifer Sprys-Tellner, Henry Vecchioni. (Comstock, Travis) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
(#13) ANSWER to Complaint with Affirmative Defenses with Jury Demand by Gavin Johnson, Levine, Matthew Outlaw, Jody Renicker, Jennifer Sprys-Tellner, Henry Vecchioni. (Mullins, Timothy) (Entered: 07/15/2022)
(#14) NOTICE TO APPEAR BY TELEPHONE: DISCOVERY PLAN DUE 8/18/2022; Scheduling Conference set for 8/19/2022 04:00 PM before District Judge Paul D. Borman *READ ENTIRE NOTICE FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION* (DTof) (Entered: 07/19/2022)
Docket Entries
- 07/19/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#14) NOTICE TO APPEAR BY TELEPHONE: DISCOVERY PLAN DUE 8/18/2022; Scheduling Conference set for 8/19/2022 04:00 PM before District Judge Paul D. Borman *READ ENTIRE NOTICE FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION* (DTof) (Entered: 07/19/2022)
- 07/15/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#13) ANSWER to Complaint with Affirmative Defenses with Jury Demand by Gavin Johnson, Levine, Matthew Outlaw, Jody Renicker, Jennifer Sprys-Tellner, Henry Vecchioni. (Mullins, Timothy) (Entered: 07/15/2022)
- 06/17/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#12) NOTICE of Appearance by Travis M. Comstock on behalf of Brighton Area School District, Gavin Johnson, Levine, Matthew Outlaw, Jody Renicker, Jennifer Sprys-Tellner, Henry Vecchioni. (Comstock, Travis) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
- 06/17/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#11) NOTICE of Appearance by Timothy J. Mullins on behalf of Brighton Area School District, Gavin Johnson, Levine, Matthew Outlaw, Jody Renicker, Jennifer Sprys-Tellner, Henry Vecchioni. (Mullins, Timothy) (Entered: 06/17/2022)
- 05/27/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#10) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Henry Vecchioni waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
- 05/27/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#9) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Jennifer Sprys-Tellner waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
- 05/27/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#8) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Jody Renicker waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
- 05/27/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#7) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Matthew Outlaw waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
- 05/27/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#6) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Levine waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
- 05/27/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#5) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Gavin Johnson waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
- 05/27/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#4) WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed. Brighton Area School District waiver sent on 5/16/2022, answer due 7/15/2022. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/27/2022)
- 05/04/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#3) SUMMONS Issued for *John Doe 1-10* (KBro) (Entered: 05/04/2022)
- 05/04/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#2) SUMMONS Issued for * All Defendants * (KBro) (Entered: 05/04/2022)
- 05/03/2022
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DocketREQUEST for SUMMONS for John Doe 1-10. (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 05/03/2022)
- 05/02/2022
- View Court Documents
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DocketNOTICE of Error directed to: Zachary T. Runyan re #1 Complaint,,. Parties listed on the initiating document were omitted. The filing attorney must use the docket event Addition of Parties to correct the error. [No Image Associated with this docket entry] (KBro) (Entered: 05/02/2022)
- 04/29/2022
- View Court Documents
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Docket(#1) COMPLAINT filed by All Plaintiffs against All Defendants with Jury Demand. Plaintiff requests summons issued. Receipt No: AMIEDC-8894134 - Fee: $ 402. County of 1st Plaintiff: Livingston - County Where Action Arose: Livingston - County of 1st Defendant: Livingston. [Previously dismissed case: No] [Possible companion case(s): None] (Runyan, Zachary) (Entered: 04/29/2022)
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