>> JOHN MILLEDGE ACADEMY
The parents of a student at John Milledge Academy (JMA) are suing the school with concerns over how their son’s fight was handled by the school and its faculty.
According to court documents, Josh and Laura Beth Moody, parents of Cameron Moody, are suing John Milledge Academy, its headmaster Clinton Humphrey, and parents of the other student involved in the fight, Matthew and Kimberly Thomas.
According to the documents, Cameron Moody was playing ultimate frisbee with another student on March 6, 2023 when a verbal conflict began between the pair. The student reportedly struck Moody, forced him to the ground, pulled a hoodie over his head and repeatedly punched Moody’s face with a closed fist.
“As a direct result of the prolonged assault and battery, Cameron Moody suffered serious damage to his face, which required medical treatment for a broken nose, deviated septum, damaged orbital socket, fractured teeth, and various contusions and abrasions,” states the suit.
Reportedly, Coach Chad Starley, who was in charge of supervising the class, informed Lauren Moody of Cameron’s injuries. The coach allegedly told her that her son had been “jumped” by the opposing student and was hurt but not in trouble. Starley also reportedly urged Lauren to hurry as Cameron was in “dire need of medical attention.”
Per the documentation, it is alleged that Humphrey denied Lauren the right to see her son immediately and insisted to talk with her instead inside his office. Lauren Moody reportedly declined this request three times before Humphrey relented and told her where to find Cameron. Moody further states in the documents that while on the way to find her son, she encountered the school’s resource officer who said he didn’t know the incident occurred.
“Once Mrs. Moody and the deputy located Cameron, it was immediately apparent that he required medical attention. The deputy made the only call to first responders for assistance and organized an ambulance ride to the hospital,” states the suit. “Seeking to get Cameron to the hospital as soon as possible, Mrs. Moody decided to take Cameron in her own vehicle.”
According to the suit, the other student was charged with criminal misconduct and eventually found guilty by a Baldwin County Court for two counts of battery against Moody. In addition, the suit states that Moody underwent multiple procedures and surgeries to treat his injury and that the recovery period required Cameron’s absence from the school until March 27, 2023.
Nearly a month later from the fight, when Moody returned to school, his parents were reportedly notified that he would be suspended from school for three days, as well as from any athletic activities. This contradicted what Lauren Moody stated she was told the day the fight happened. According to the suit, Moody’s parents met with Humphrey about these punishments and stated that Humphrey “claimed that Cameron was faking or exaggerating his injuries.”
It is further stated in the suit that Cameron Moody was subjected to bullying by the other student’s friends on numerous occasions upon his return and that despite reports being made to the headmaster, no action was taken. According to the suit, a No-Contact Order was entered into court, which is stated to have been violated multiple times. After repeated attempts by the Moodys to meet with school administrators about concerns related to the fight and excessive bullying, they were informed via email that any future correspondence must go through the school’s attorneys.
As the bullying continued, the Moodys placed a request for Cameron to attend school online for his safety and JMA approved this request. Cameron began online instruction on April 17, 2023 and the suit states that his learning environment was “grossly deficient.” While Cameron reportedly struggled online, the other student was able to remain attending classes in person and alongside Cameron, when he was required to go to the school to complete tasks, even after he was found guilty of battery following his April trial.
In the suit, the Moodys are suing for a count of negligence by Headmaster Humphrey, a count of respondeat superior, a count of assault, a count of battery, and a count of punitive damages.