In a recent legal filing, Melissa Jones and Carmello Lawes have initiated a lawsuit against the DeKalb County School District in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The plaintiffs, who are mother and son, allege that they were subjected to retaliatory termination after speaking out against the school district’s violations of state and federal laws concerning disability rights. Both were employed by the district—Jones as an interrelated teacher and Lawes as a paraprofessional.
The complaint details how Jones’ child, identified only as C.J., who is legally blind, was denied appropriate educational accommodations in violation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Despite repeated reminders to C.J.’s teacher about necessary accommodations, such as assignments in braille or text-to-speech software, these were not provided, resulting in academic setbacks for C.J.
Further allegations include whistleblowing activities by Jones regarding fraudulent documents related to another student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), which were ignored by school authorities. In retaliation for these actions, both plaintiffs faced adverse employment consequences including job reassignments that made it impossible for them to continue their roles due to transportation constraints.
The lawsuit claims associational discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act and violations of the Rehabilitation Act. It also invokes Georgia’s Whistleblower Statute due to alleged retaliatory actions taken against Jones following her disclosures about misconduct within the school district. The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages, reinstatement or damages for future lost wages, and other reliefs deemed appropriate by the court.
Source: 125cv06034_Melissa_Jones_v_Dekalb_County_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf
