Teen arrested for homemade clock seeking $15M in damages
Source: USA Today/ TV 11 Atlanta
IRVING, Texas -- Attorneys for the family of Ahmed Mohamed, the Irving High School student who made international headlines after being arrested earlier this year for bringing a homemade clock to school, have sent letters to both the city of Irving and the Irving School District demanding apologies and $15 million in damages.
Both letters claim that Mohamed's civil rights were violated, and he and his family have suffered physical and mental anguish because of the ordeal.
The letters claim Ahmed was singled out "because of his race, national origin, and religion."
"Ahmed never threatened anyone, never caused harm to anyone, and never intended to," read the letter to the city. "The only one who was hurt that day was Ahmed, and the damages he suffered were not because of oversight or incompetence. The school and city officials involved knew what they needed to do to protect Ahmed's rights. They just decided not to do it."
Read more: http://www.11alive.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/11/23/ahmed-mohamed-suing/76262308/
Worth $15 million?
closeupready
(29,503 posts)and I hope he succeeds.
Certainly, apologies are free.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)thereismore
(13,326 posts)A bit excessive. The clock was just a disassembled and reassembled clock.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Did he receive that same VIP from the local PD and school authorities? No? Then it seems rather irrelevant, at best.
Odd though that you imply that the student's response was excessive, but not those who originally cuffed and interrogated him.
thereismore
(13,326 posts)840high
(17,196 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)840high
(17,196 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)840high
(17,196 posts)thereismore
(13,326 posts)cannabis_flower
(3,768 posts)Then when you negotiate you have room to go down.
William Seger
(10,779 posts)... it's really hard to imagine any reason that he took a clock apart and put it in a case unless he was trying to simulate a bomb, and he's certainly old enough to realize what it looked like. I do think the school over-reacted to what appears to be a prank by having him arrested, and that might well be because of prejudice, but I'm not buying the "innocent misunderstanding" line.
randys1
(16,286 posts)Well, your type of attitude and thinking is why this is a story.
The officials agreed with you, they saw a BROWN kid with something that didnt look right...
you bet
Keep up this horrible attitude (cant call it what it actually is in white America without being silenced) and you will get a real shit storm
Like Trump who now says Black people should be beaten, possibly killed, if they speak.
William Seger
(10,779 posts)... I can't think of any other reason he would take a clock apart and put it in a case and then take it to school, and that has nothing whatsoever to do with his ethnicity. I couldn't care very much less how "ridiculous" you find that "horrible attitude" since you can't seem to think of any reason, either.
randys1
(16,286 posts)scared white asshole said it looked like one
Race war could come to America if certain folks dont cut this shit out
not calling poster here asshole, so the hiders go away please
William Seger
(10,779 posts)My opinion -- which is only my opinion -- has nothing whatsoever to do with his ethnicity. You, on the other hand, seem to be quite comfortable with your prejudices.
The2ndWheel
(7,947 posts)Did any of his teachers assign him a project to do? Did he enter it into some science fair?
randys1
(16,286 posts)is a RABIDLY racist country which means MANY Americans are rabidly racist
The2ndWheel
(7,947 posts)He had no official reason to bring it to school.
randys1
(16,286 posts)ugh, i feel like i need a shower
840high
(17,196 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)didnt.
I know what you believe
840high
(17,196 posts)I'll ask you again - what project?
randys1
(16,286 posts)either it was to look like a bomb or it wasnt.
You believe it was
You DESPERATELY and you are not alone want this kid to be guilty of something and hate the idea that he might get this money
i know that
William Seger
(10,779 posts)... when I thought he "invented" or "made" a clock and just wanted to show it off. My opinion changed when I found out he just stuffed a clock in a case. If you believe it was just a "project" then what was the purpose of this invention? Was the clock just too small in its original case? Did he perceive a need for keeping the time secret in a closed case?
!4-year-olds are immature enough to sometimes do stupid things, but that doesn't mean they're stupid. I'm just having a hard time believing he didn't know it looked like a bomb.
As I said, I think the school overreacted by having him arrested so he may well have a case, but I'm not buying the "innocent misunderstanding" bit.
randys1
(16,286 posts)white people would think that.
Most Brown people in America know better.
The2ndWheel
(7,947 posts)He also had no other reason to bring it in either. If he was trying to impress his teacher, he did, and that same teacher told him not to show it to anyone else. Then he did anyway.
What happens if he doesn't go out of his way to bring the clock into school? Nothing. What happens if he leaves it with the first teacher and takes it home at the end of the day? Nothing. What happens if he just tinkers with things in the garage? Nothing. Nobody stopped him from doing it. Nobody was watching him. They weren't tracking his clock purchases because he's a young Muslim male.
PatSeg
(47,613 posts)and the school district handled the situation was wrong, but it feels like the boy and his family have been taking advantage of the whole thing. $15 million is over-the-top.
randys1
(16,286 posts)way to stop racist assholes from acting like they did.
Quantess
(27,630 posts)brush
(53,876 posts)We all know how that works. You sue for a lot more than you expect to get.
I say go for it. The school district is certainly at fault in how they treated the boy, maybe not 15M at fault but he should get something.
They certainly won't treat anyone like that again after shelling out a substantial amount.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)brush
(53,876 posts)Surely you don't think they should be able to get away scott free for their racist behavior?
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)But asking for $15 million really paints the family in a terrible light.
And the insurance company may pay but the rate increase will certainly hit the community (if the ins co doesn't completely drop them)
Sorry I guess I think the family erases a big chunk of support with this lawsuit
brush
(53,876 posts)but still enough to make racist a holes in authority think twice before they treat someone like that again.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)and I'd say the racist assholes aren't going to think about this lawsuit, not one bit since this episode won't ever personally "cost" them.
tblue37
(65,490 posts)how the Muslims are coming to impose Sharia law on their good Christian community.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)not everyone in that community is a racist Teabagger.
I just think asking for $15 million in compensation taints the whole episode. It's turning off supporters and I hate to see that.
treestar
(82,383 posts)so as to make sure you don't price yourself out of what the verdict is.
Owl
(3,644 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)840high
(17,196 posts)White House with his clock - would have been treated same way. No matter what color.
Javaman
(62,534 posts)he won't get that much but it's enough for everyone to sit up and take notice.
you did, didn't you?
that's the point.
if we are going to hit back at these racist pricks, we have to make it hurt.
that way they will think twice next time before they act like total racist assholes.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)It'll be the taxpayers. So no, there is nothing keeping them from being racist assholes. The family are grifters.
Javaman
(62,534 posts)these asshole racist board members.
that's how it works.
yes, there will be financial pain, however, if they had a school board with an ounce of brains, this wouldn't be an issue.
vkkv
(3,384 posts)LeftyNYC has taken offense to my previous defense of a Palestinian nation.. Palestinians.. meaning Muslims, who are in conflict with Israel.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)an Islamophobe in at least a week by someone here for merely having the nerve to disagree. Yawn.
dinkytron
(568 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)No, it wont keep any invididual from being a racist, it WILL keep school boards and police departments from employing them, however
Grifters, god damn that pisses me off
REALLY pisses me off
Grifters, FUCK THAT
and libel, since you wrote it here....
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)$15 million dollars? From the taxpayers? How about they sue the police PERSONALLY? Nah - payout wont be big enough.
randys1
(16,286 posts)resolve the problem.
The problem is administrators and officials hiring assholes, they need to be held accountable.
You wont ever get this, I assume.
Some folks, when they get money, decide that new priorities are in order, which is a shame.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)They're THREATENING to sue if the city doesn't pay their ransom.
randys1
(16,286 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)A THREAT to sue (why not just sue?) if they don't pay up to the tune of $15 million. What the fuck would you call it?
christx30
(6,241 posts)though I would say 'extortion' is slightly more accurate than 'ransom'. Splitting hairs, I know.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)equally well here. It's disgusting.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)to teach me a real lesson by posting TWO angry emoticons. It actually sounds to me like extortion:
Attorneys for Ahmed Mohamed's family on Monday sent a letter to city and school officials who mistook his clock for a bomb that demanded they pay millions of dollars or else face a civil lawsuit, according to The Dallas Morning News.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ahmed-mohamed-compensation-civil-lawsuit
They'll forego the trouble of a lawsuit - if the city and school district pay up. This is what you're defending.
Feel free to look up my posts from the time. I supported this kid up and down the line - not anymore.
840high
(17,196 posts)vkkv
(3,384 posts)They sound like typical Americans! They fit right in!
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)has been milking it for all it's worth.
840high
(17,196 posts)brush
(53,876 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)should have to pay. Let them sue the teacher/police personally. $15 million dollars. That's a disgrace.
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)of some sort and a formal apology from the perpetrators. And the bigots need to learn that there is a price be paid for pulling this shit. But, then again when bigots are welcomed on one of the most liberal websites on the Internet - why should anyone think they might pay a price for their abuse?
closeupready
(29,503 posts)Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)xenophobia, hate and bigotry. But when the administration of one of the most liberal forums on the Internet don't seem to think it is any big deal - what is one supposed to think?
closeupready
(29,503 posts)Perhaps there is a part of the Democratic Party that always was and always will be deeply racist?
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)Give you a hint, it's not the police or the people working in the schools who lose the money. It doesn't 'get back at' them in the slightest. It ends up hurting the community and the other students, on whom less money will end up being spent for their educations.
Until such lawsuits actually DO come out of the pockets of the people who do stupid, racist, things, they're simply hurting everyone else. Including every other minority kid in that district.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Javaman
(62,534 posts)Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)I think we've seen enough with Arpaio being back in power year after year to see that voters don't connect the 'pain' of taxes wasted on lawsuits with their actual votes.
Javaman
(62,534 posts)I wish the kid luck.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)for entire districts.
The far better solution is to remove some of the 'immunity' police departments and police have when they violate civil rights. Make them liable as individuals and departments, and change in their behaviour will come much more quickly.
Javaman
(62,534 posts)Last edited Wed Nov 25, 2015, 12:26 AM - Edit history (1)
you tell me "good luck with that" when you say, "voters don't connect the 'pain' of taxes wasted on lawsuits with their actual votes", but you think there will actually be a type of removal of "immunity"? LOL
dream on.
At least this kid has lawyers and is going to get some action.
your "solution" is at best a pipe dream regarding the current state of affairs.
Their behavior, even with the removal of this presumed immunity you believe, will never change. the concept of "immunity" is systemic. It would take a colossal overhaul to make that happen, if it ever happened.
I grew up in NYC, cops have always been corrupt there, just a fact, it's just a matter of degrees as to how much.
there have been all sorts of "programs" and "laws passed" and investigations by internal affairs and nothing has changed. In fact is has gotten worse.
Why? the patriot act allows for a very wide margin of interpretation of all things the cops deem "criminal".
Your tactic would take many years at best, in the mean time, hoping for your"solution" would allow the same behavior to continue and allow it to go unpunished.
It's neither one way or the other.
the kid gets his day in court (unless it's settled out of court. Very likely) and if you want to encourage change to the system, go for it. It needs it, but in the mean time, the media's spot light on this case will attract more attention to change the current "immunity" cops enjoy instead of taking that one track and not file a lawsuit against the school district.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)so embarrassed about getting fooled by a clock that they invented a reason to arrest/suspend him just to save face
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)a false alarm...
christx30
(6,241 posts)at the whitehouse. See if the secret service is the least bit embarrassed by tackling you.
I hope the city and the school send the kid and his family a picture of their middle fingers and threaten to counter sue.
This is a family of grifters. They deserve nothing.
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)christx30
(6,241 posts)of budgets, and this kid wants to extort millions?
Not just no, but F no. I hate thieves. He had an afternoon ruined. That's not worth millions from the school district, especially if he's not even going to be a student here.
His dad wanted to stir shit up so he could win the lawsuit lottery. He shouldn't get a dime.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)slightly different security protocols than the average public school...
kentauros
(29,414 posts)the White House isn't a public school. Until the WH starts asking kids to bring in their electronic projects for school in order to get credit, it's a horrible analogy. In fact, it doesn't even work as an analogy to Ahmed's situation.
TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)In fact, the science teacher to whom he first showed the clock, told him to put it away and not take it out again because he realized that it might be mistaken for a bomb.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)the analogy of taking it to the White House is a bad analogy. He showed it to a teacher, his engineering teacher, because that's where he learned about electronics (presumably.) Who would he take it to in the White House, and for what reason?
And technically, he didn't take it out again of his own volition in that English class. He just didn't turn off the audio, so it made itself known (as our electronics sometimes do, and as they are programmed to do.)
TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)And I don't believe for a minute that anyone ever thought it was a real bomb, although I do believe that some might have felt that it was a prank or hoax - which carries severe penalties in most school districts.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)when a student brought something cool and homemade like that to school, the teacher would stop everything for a few minutes to let the kid to the front of the class so he could explain how he made it...And then the teacher would browbeat the rest of us because Ahmed made something like this in his spare time while the rest of us were wasting time in the arcades, movie theater and roller rink..
kentauros
(29,414 posts)And I wasn't contradicting your initial one, just adding to it
TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)which routinely feature bombs with clocks ticking on them and some wires here and there.
And probably why his teacher warned him not to show it to anyone.
I mean....we all know that bombs look just like the bombs on our favorite tv program!
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)And, frankly, that's as close as I want to get to one.
So, yeah, we're are an ignorant populace when it comes to bombs. I understand that most don't come with ticking timers, for starters.
getagrip_already
(14,838 posts)They always knew it wasn't a bomb. Consider that they never evacuated the school, and kept the gizmo in the principals office until the police arrived. The cop never called in a bomb squad, and never took any precautions.
They always knew it wasn't a bomb.
But $15M? When families are burying kin for racial injustice and getting bupkus, this seems over the top. I can see making a point, but at least make it sensibly. This will write a lot of red baiting fund raising letters and ugly segments on fox. That won't help anyone.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)and it will certainly get negotiated down to about 15% of that, but there's nothing wrong with starting high -- A huge number is likely to get more media attention too, so this law firm knows what they're doing...
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)being arrested "was kind of cool" wouldn't help his case if it did.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)He got an apology, a trip to the White House and his family moved. Now they're going to fleece the taxpayers of that town to finance them? Assholes.
vkkv
(3,384 posts)should be 'taught a lesson'.
Texas Dumbfucks!
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)which, no doubt, includes many Democrats and people who had nothing to do with this will have to pay for it.
jamzrockz
(1,333 posts)Be it police brutality, wrongful conviction compensation, injury from city negligence etc etc. The tax payers always pay for the crime.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)which is why I'm puzzled that so many here are celebrating this suit. The school board and the police will continue to collect their paychecks and the taxpayers will foot this bill. Hardly something to celebrate. Especially as I consider it nothing but extortion - they're not even suing - they're THREATENING to sue if the city doesn't give in to their ransom.
840high
(17,196 posts)thinking he knew all along what he was doing.
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)With cops being gun crazy as they are these days, I doubt he thought it would lead to him being arrested. Going to a Texass jail and being Muslim wouldn't be too wise of a plot IMO.
vkkv
(3,384 posts)dumbfucks that "oooh,.,, ha ha ha.. I'll make a clock that looks like a BOMB...ha ha ha.. and then.. they'll arrest me.. great! ha ha ha, they'll be falling right IN MY TRAP.. ha ha ha.. and then I'll get a trip to the White HOUse.. ho ho ho.. and then my family will sue them for FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS!! oohh.. ha ha ha... my secret plan has worked!!!"""
Yeah, right, and the world circles around every one of your thoughts, too. Got it.
840high
(17,196 posts)christx30
(6,241 posts)made a living out of that kind of thinking. Say inflammatory BS about gays, hoping to get physically attacked. Make a small fortune off the lawsuit. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Not too far beyond the realm of possibility that others might catch onto this get rich quick scheme. The kid probably wasn't in on it. But the father? Definitely.
The2ndWheel
(7,947 posts)Nobody told him to do it, or bring anything in for anything. His science teacher then tells him he shouldn't show it to anyone else, for a specific reason, the whole looks like a bomb thing, but he does it anyway.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)and it's certainly possible. I'm not a fan of trying to litigate behavior.
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)There should be no more doubt.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)katsy
(4,246 posts)Personally, I find it appalling that the LEO in this case AND the case of the young girl getting beaten had not exhibited any common sense when dealing with children.
If a jury of their peers find it a $15m offense so be it. Stop fucking around with people's civil rights and you don't get sued.
Kinda off topic: I hope someone sues the school district and LEO where that young lady was choked and dragged around while in her seat. That was an atrocity.
brush
(53,876 posts)Which is why they started so high.
There have to be consequences for racist behavior by those in authority or it will never stop.
Hope they make an heiress of that young lady
StevieM
(10,500 posts)Their whole lives were just changed--and not for the better.
SunSeeker
(51,726 posts)ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)Well, except for a few actual defenders of Quatar who'll be along soon to post their travel brochures.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)who are on the hook for this money for them moving to Qatar. They had many places in the US they could have moved. The move to Qatar is on the parents, nobody else.
hollowdweller
(4,229 posts)He'll be in the next ISIS video..
(Kidding)
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)Just find the next T-Rump fest and you're there.
Person 2713
(3,263 posts)cstanleytech
(26,320 posts)ProfessorGAC
(65,212 posts)Maybe not any college anywhere, but a good one in the field he likes and no student debt when he graduates.
Doesn't hammer the community, but has some impact on those who have to manage those budgets.
cstanleytech
(26,320 posts)Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)Response to Nye Bevan (Reply #62)
closeupready This message was self-deleted by its author.
Person 2713
(3,263 posts)religion and not notifying the parents for several hours
Galraedia
(5,027 posts)Last edited Tue Nov 24, 2015, 11:52 AM - Edit history (1)
I mean have you seen the education system in Texas recently? Plus, asking for $15 million is about as stupid as taking apart a clock, putting it in a suitcase, and bringing it to school. This kid has got to meet the president, fame, free gifts from Microsoft, a scholarship to MIT,...etc. But apparently that's not enough.
I supported this kid against the Islamophobic attacks but always thought the clock was suspicious. Maybe he shouldn't have been arrested, but it should have definitely been taking away. Plus, who in their right mind takes apart a clock, puts it in a suitcase, and brings it to school? I don't care what color you are, that's just down right suspicious.
Aria36
(52 posts)They might not have counted on the huge media attention, though.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Aria36
(52 posts)Got to watch those borders... might have liberals w/unorthodox opinions getting through.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)Sad that they put their kids up to stunts for their own enrichment. But it worked. Even got the President involved. Dumb stuff.
Aria36
(52 posts)Yep. He brought the non-bomb to school & showed it to every single teacher until 6th period. Then he plugged it in & set the non-bomb's alarm to go off in the middle of English class. It's like the teachers weren't overreacting enough, so he kept pushing the envelope until finally someone called the cops. Presto, lawsuit!
I'm sort of embarrassed for liberals that so many of us fell for it. I did too until reading the full story. We just assumed he must've been a victim of discrimination w/o knowing all the facts.
Democat
(11,617 posts)This kid gets a meeting with the president and he wants $15 million.
Quantess
(27,630 posts)Muslim is a race, these days.
greymattermom
(5,754 posts)some people thought Jewish was a race. Sound similar?
ileus
(15,396 posts)librechik
(30,676 posts)We can't touch them in the criminal law system, but if the random fascists in various institutions started getting the piss sued out of them, they would back off. It took a long time, but we eventually got the tobacco industry to back off. More like that, please.
I don't care about the amount the kid is asking for. Go for it. Make these fuckers pay attention.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)Democat
(11,617 posts)There is no "them".
bemildred
(90,061 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,621 posts)No. Breakfast for four at Denny's, tops.
Spend the money on educating people who will stay in this country rather than beat feet to Qatar.
840high
(17,196 posts)closeupready
(29,503 posts)??
cstanleytech
(26,320 posts)get out of jail card.
I agree 100% that the demand for 15 million is bullshit though but I could see around $150,000 being put into a trust fund for the kid to pay for some of his college education or to be turned over to him when he reachs the age of 30.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)and should not get one penny of money.