A shocking incident at a Georgia middle school has led to a lawsuit that highlights serious allegations of abuse and negligence within the Atlanta Public Schools system. On January 8, 2026, Cynteria Lomnick filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Atlanta Public Schools, Principal Carla McCall McCou, and former employee Samuel Jimenez. The lawsuit stems from an incident on May 3, 2024, where Lomnick’s son, Tavoris Johnson (TJ), was allegedly assaulted by Jimenez while attending Crawford Long Middle School.
According to the complaint, TJ was subjected to a headlock and chokehold by Jimenez during class, which resulted in him losing consciousness and sustaining injuries. Despite initial false claims by school officials that TJ had simply passed out while playing with friends, subsequent investigations revealed that several classmates corroborated TJ’s account of being strangled. The lawsuit accuses Jimenez of using excessive force without any legitimate educational or disciplinary purpose, which is claimed to be a violation of TJ’s constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.
The plaintiff further alleges that both McCou and the Atlanta Public Schools were aware of Jimenez’s history of abusive behavior towards students but failed to take appropriate action. This alleged negligence allowed Jimenez to continue working at the school until he resigned months after the incident. Lomnick asserts that this lack of oversight and accountability contributed to her son’s physical injuries and ongoing emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
Lomnick is seeking compensatory damages exceeding $1 million for physical pain, emotional distress, medical expenses, and educational disruption caused by the incident. Additionally, she requests punitive damages against all defendants and injunctive relief mandating de-escalation training for teachers and staff within Atlanta Public Schools. The case emphasizes the need for systemic changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Representing Lomnick is attorney Kianna Chennault from Chennault Legal and Consulting Group. The case has been assigned Civil Action No. 1:26-cv-00121-ELR in front of Judge Eleanor L. Ross.
Source: 126cv121_Cynteria_Lomnick_v_Atlanta_Public_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf.pdf