Shanice Griggs, a mother from D.C., has filed a lawsuit after a teacher’s aide compelled her non-verbal, autistic son to consume hot sauce as a form of punishment in an incident that occurred last year at Nalle Elementary School.
The aide confessed to inserting her finger, which was covered in hot sauce, into the mouth of Griggs’ 9-year-old son as a disciplinary measure.
Griggs has taken legal action against the aide, Imani K. Davis, as well as the D.C. government. A police report revealed that Davis claimed the child “deserved it.”
Griggs is demanding greater accountability from D.C. Public Schools and better training for teachers who work with special-needs students.
“I was heartbroken,” Griggs told Fox5DC. “I’m hurt. I still am hurt. Because what type of person would do that to a child who can’t talk?”
“I’m not saying my son is perfect, but he don’t deserve this,” Griggs, who works as a classroom paraprofessional at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, previously told The Post. “I’m furious because this is my nonverbal child.”
Months later, Griggs shared that her son remained fearful of attending Nalle. She intends to move him to another school next year.
“My son still cries,” she recounted. “He don’t want to go there.”
Davis admitted guilt to assault charges related to the incident and received community service as part of a plea agreement earlier this year.
The lawsuit accuses Davis and the D.C. government of assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Griggs is asking for more than $500,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages from Davis, along with attorney’s fees, costs, and interest. She also requests a jury trial.
Griggs mentioned that her son has lost interest in attending school since the incident.
“He used to love getting on the bus,” Griggs said. “He used to love getting dressed in the morning, waiting for his school bus. Now he’s fighting. Every time he sees hot sauce he just panics. He don’t want to be there.”
“This lawsuit here is a wake-up call to the District of Columbia and its school system to carefully examine who they have on duty and are they appropriately trained,” said attorney Malik Shabazz. “Are they the right people to be on duty, especially when it comes to dealing with special needs children and autistic children.”
A spokesperson for D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) responded to the lawsuit, saying, “Student safety is paramount, and we hold all employees to the highest standards of conduct. While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we can confirm that Ms. Davis is no longer employed by the District.”
