A Georgia resident is taking legal action to protect her livelihood from what she claims is an unlawful administrative standstill and illegal employment suspension. Rhonda Lynn Carmichael filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on February 26, 2026, against Angelique Beauford McClendon, Club Demonstration Services, Inc., Dave Peacock, and Amy Lang.
The case revolves around Carmichael’s assertion that her civil rights are being violated due to an alleged “reverification” scheme by her employer, Club Demonstration Services (CDS), which has led to her suspension without pay. The complaint details how Carmichael was informed by CDS’s agent on February 17, 2026, that although they were aware she was authorized to work in the U.S., they were enforcing a suspension until she provided a picture of her ID or driver’s license. This situation arose after Carmichael paid for a state identification card on September 19, 2025, but was denied issuance due to using a “General Delivery” address—an action she claims is not supported by Georgia law.
Carmichael argues that this denial of her state ID card is an ultra vires act by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), as there is no statutory requirement prohibiting “General Delivery” addresses for state IDs. She further contends that this policy unlawfully holds her ID hostage to collect unrelated fines tied to a civil license suspension. The complaint also highlights constitutional violations under the First and Fourteenth Amendments due to procedural issues and wealth-based discrimination against those using general delivery addresses.
In addition to seeking declaratory and injunctive relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Carmichael requests back pay for lost wages calculated at $16 per hour since her suspension began on February 4, 2026. She also seeks punitive damages against individual actors involved in what she describes as knowing and willful disregard of the law. Furthermore, Carmichael asks for an emergency temporary restraining order preventing further termination actions against her and a mandamus order directing DDS Commissioner McClendon to issue her state ID immediately.
Representing herself pro se and in forma pauperis, Rhonda Lynn Carmichael brings this case before Judge AT with Case ID: 1:26-cv-01138-AT. No attorneys are listed for either party within the document.
Source: 126cv01138_Rhonda_Lynn_v_Angelique_Beauford_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
