Clock kid sues for $15 million

[Infected Mushroom]

I don't have any pre-conceived notions about how big a bomb has to be, and there's no reason to ascribe such notions to an ordinary member of the community with no special expertise in bomb identification

Did YOU look at the clock? Have you ever seen photos of actual bombs inside suitcases?

I never received any specialised training in bomb identification, so no

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

False equivalency. He brought a clock, no a bomb. Try again.

http://imgur.com/QEgojWo

Yeah, his clock doesn't look like a bomb. At all. He turned a pencil case into a digital clock. What you see on the inside is the circuit box for the clock.

[Exelia]

After attorney's fees, that's nothing, and considering that the school district likely has liability insurance, it won't even raise their monthly rates. There is nothing in that payout to keep them from doing it again.

You're right, so you should add in attorney fees. I do not however think the school did such a ludicrous act that it requires a significant punishment as an institution.
.

It also doesn't take away the suspension from his record

Which of course should be removed, but is not a number that can be charged.

the negative effects of the worldwide public attention (Much of which was welcome, but much of which was also unwelcome, and thrust an innocent adolescent into the national spotlight where he was called a terrorist in training, a con artist, and an attention seeker by prominent figures in the political arena and the media),

Which he needs to be capable of proving losses. Having people be mean to you is not a sufficient charge for emotional damage.

The kid that played little Anakin in Star Wars had his life ruined as a result. He was emotionally stunted and suffered pretty clear emotional damage. But he isn't entitled to shit, because it was the community, not the person who elevated him to stardom, that was the cause.

or the likely issues that he suffered as a result of being handcuffed and marched through his school

Again, you need to be capable of proving damages.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Did YOU look at the clock? Have you ever seen photos of actual bombs inside suitcases?

I never received any specialised training in bomb identification, so no

Neither do I have any special training and I can tell the difference.

[Arkinesia]

its reasonable suspicion from the perspective of the average school teacher carrying out a duty to warn the police without having received training on bomb identification

the doctrine of reasonable suspicion applies with varying standards depending on the person's training and position; so long as the person is acting under it, he's doing so in good faith and is safe from the law

A bomb needs explosives. Wires and a display do not explode. There's nothing reasonable in assuming that the device was a bomb.

There is, however, something reasonable in assuming that the clock was in fact a pretty funny prank.

[Wallenburg]

Did YOU look at the clock? Have you ever seen photos of actual bombs inside suitcases?

I never received any specialised training in bomb identification, so no

You don't need special training to differentiate the two.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

False equivalency. He brought a clock, no a bomb. Try again.

http://imgur.com/QEgojWo

The power cord should have been a clue.

[Allanea]

False arrest and civil rights violations are a thing that people legitimately sue for, and it's a thing where the damage cannot be reasonably quantified.

Nor do people in such lawsuits seriously expect to get the full value of what they sued for. So it's purposeless to complain about the $15 million price tag.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

No, it was ignorance.

Big difference.

There is a huge difference under the law. Mere ignorance is rarely ever enough to establish the basis for a negligence lawsuit and it certainly will never be enough to establish the basis for torts that require an element of malice (such as discrimination or abuse of process)

The schoolteacher received no training on bomb identification, he was acting out in good faith and that is going to be the presumption. There is no reason to ascribe a higher standard of care to how he behaved given that a person in his position had a duty to warn the police if he suspected there was a bomb while at the same time didn't receive any training on bomb identification

Except that he did not act in a manner that a reasonable person in a position of authority who had just discovered a bomb would act, nor is there any indication that he communicated a belief that it was a bomb to anyone else. In fact, his actions subsequent to seeing the device indicated that he did not think of himself or the school as being in any danger.

There was no call for an orderly school evacuation.

He carried the clock to the principal's office on his own without any indication that he feared for his own safety or the safety of others while transporting the device.

He did not request a bomb disposal unit when contacting the police.

The principal did not request a bomb disposal unit when contacting the police.

The clock was placed on the principal's desk, and people stayed within feet of it in the office.

The police, when they arrived, did not call for a bomb disposal unit.

At no point during this entire process did anyone act as if they thought that this was an actual explosive device of any sort. Instead, they acted as if they were in possession of a clock.

[Gauthier]

There is a huge difference under the law. Mere ignorance is rarely ever enough to establish the basis for a negligence lawsuit and it certainly will never be enough to establish the basis for torts that require an element of malice (such as discrimination or abuse of process)

The schoolteacher received no training on bomb identification, he was acting out in good faith and that is going to be the presumption. There is no reason to ascribe a higher standard of care to how he behaved given that a person in his position had a duty to warn the police if he suspected there was a bomb while at the same time didn't receive any training on bomb identification

Except that he did not act in a manner that a reasonable person in a position of authority who had just discovered a bomb would act, nor is there any indication that he communicated a belief that it was a bomb to anyone else. In fact, his actions subsequent to seeing the device indicated that he did not think of himself or the school as being in any danger.

There was no call for an orderly school evacuation.

He carried the clock to the principal's office on his own without any indication that he feared for his own safety or the safety of others while transporting the device.

He did not request a bomb disposal unit when contacting the police.

The principal did not request a bomb disposal unit when contacting the police.

The clock was placed on the principal's desk, and people stayed within feet of it in the office.

The police, when they arrived, did not call for a bomb disposal unit.

At no point during this entire process did anyone act as if they thought that this was an actual explosive device of any sort. Instead, they acted as if they were in possession of a clock.

But called it a "bomb" to cover their asses on why they had him arrested and paraded like an Al'Qaeda operative.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

False equivalency. He brought a clock, no a bomb. Try again.

http://imgur.com/QEgojWo

Yes.

The inside of a digital clock looks different from the outside of an analog clock.

[Allanea]

How are people even still reposting that meme.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

http://imgur.com/QEgojWo

Yes.

The inside of a digital clock looks different from the outside of an analog clock.

And doesn't anyone else notice the absence of any explosive material?

[Gauthier]

http://imgur.com/QEgojWo

Yes.

The inside of a digital clock looks different from the outside of an analog clock.

But apparently people assume the Vaultz pencil box and the suitcase bomb are the same size.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Yes.

The inside of a digital clock looks different from the outside of an analog clock.

But apparently people assume the Vaultz pencil box and the suitcase bomb are the same size.

I provided examples of actual suitcase bombs. I don't think anyone care to look. And why would they? It dispels the myth.

[Gauthier]

Yes.

The inside of a digital clock looks different from the outside of an analog clock.

And doesn't anyone else notice the absence of any explosive material?

They just believe all Muslims are like Gambit. Anything they touch detonates when they want it to. *nod*

[Yumyumsuppertime]

After attorney's fees, that's nothing, and considering that the school district likely has liability insurance, it won't even raise their monthly rates. There is nothing in that payout to keep them from doing it again.

You're right, so you should add in attorney fees. I do not however think the school did such a ludicrous act that it requires a significant punishment as an institution.
.

It also doesn't take away the suspension from his record

Which of course should be removed, but is not a number that can be charged.

the negative effects of the worldwide public attention (Much of which was welcome, but much of which was also unwelcome, and thrust an innocent adolescent into the national spotlight where he was called a terrorist in training, a con artist, and an attention seeker by prominent figures in the political arena and the media),

Which he needs to be capable of proving losses. Having people be mean to you is not a sufficient charge for emotional damage.

The kid that played little Anakin in Star Wars had his life ruined as a result. He was emotionally stunted and suffered pretty clear emotional damage. But he isn't entitled to shit, because it was the community, not the person who elevated him to stardom, that was the cause.

or the likely issues that he suffered as a result of being handcuffed and marched through his school

Again, you need to be capable of proving damages.

You can sue for expected losses and punitive damages, the latter being a number high enough to discourage a person or entity from doing the same thing again. The punitive damages are what I suspect make up the majority of this. I also suspect that the insurance company will press to settle this rather than have the school's stupidity dragged through the court.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

There is a huge difference under the law. Mere ignorance is rarely ever enough to establish the basis for a negligence lawsuit and it certainly will never be enough to establish the basis for torts that require an element of malice (such as discrimination or abuse of process)

The schoolteacher received no training on bomb identification, he was acting out in good faith and that is going to be the presumption. There is no reason to ascribe a higher standard of care to how he behaved given that a person in his position had a duty to warn the police if he suspected there was a bomb while at the same time didn't receive any training on bomb identification

Except that he did not act in a manner that a reasonable person in a position of authority who had just discovered a bomb would act, nor is there any indication that he communicated a belief that it was a bomb to anyone else. In fact, his actions subsequent to seeing the device indicated that he did not think of himself or the school as being in any danger.

There was no call for an orderly school evacuation.

He carried the clock to the principal's office on his own without any indication that he feared for his own safety or the safety of others while transporting the device.

He did not request a bomb disposal unit when contacting the police.

The principal did not request a bomb disposal unit when contacting the police.

The clock was placed on the principal's desk, and people stayed within feet of it in the office.

The police, when they arrived, did not call for a bomb disposal unit.

At no point during this entire process did anyone act as if they thought that this was an actual explosive device of any sort. Instead, they acted as if they were in possession of a clock.

Did they at least unplug it?

[The Grey Wolf]

So if someone brings what looks like a gun to school you should just leave them alone...right?

False equivalency. He brought a clock, no a bomb. Try again.

It actually isn't, given that the clock resembled a bomb.

Teachers and others are constantly expected to be suspicious and vigilant, and when someone walks into a school with what looks like a bomb (not helped by the fact he belongs to a religion that doesn't have the best track record with extremism at the moment) they're not just going to pat them on the back.

But maybe him being a Muslim puts him above all suspicion. I dunno, think it might just be my white privilege.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

And doesn't anyone else notice the absence of any explosive material?

They just believe all Muslims are like Gambit. Anything they touch detonates when they want it to. *nod*

I guess they think Muslims all have C4 instead of blood in their veins. Tap the burqa or the turban and watch them all go boom.

[Gauthier]

False equivalency. He brought a clock, no a bomb. Try again.

It actually isn't, given that the clock resembled a bomb.

Teachers and others are constantly expected to be suspicious and vigilant, and when someone walks into a school with what looks like a bomb (not helped by the fact he belongs to a religion that doesn't have the best track record with extremism at the moment) they're not just going to pat them on the back.

But maybe him being a Muslim puts him above all suspicion. I dunno, think it might just be my white privilege.

Did you see the photos of the actual model of pencil box he used?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

False equivalency. He brought a clock, no a bomb. Try again.

It actually isn't, given that the clock resembled a bomb.

Teachers and others are constantly expected to be suspicious and vigilant, and when someone walks into a school with what looks like a bomb (not helped by the fact he belongs to a religion that doesn't have the best track record with extremism at the moment) they're not just going to pat them on the back.

But maybe him being a Muslim puts him above all suspicion. I dunno, think it might just be my white privilege.

Except it doesn't look like a bomb and people have already explained why it doesn't look like one. Not to mention that the clock was made using a pencil case. Notice the absence of explosive material? Yeah, that.

[Gauthier]

They just believe all Muslims are like Gambit. Anything they touch detonates when they want it to. *nod*

I guess they think Muslims all have C4 instead of blood in their veins. Tap the burqa or the turban and watch them all go boom.

No, the detonator is voice-activated.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I guess they think Muslims all have C4 instead of blood in their veins. Tap the burqa or the turban and watch them all go boom.

No, the detonator is voice-activated.

Are you sure it isn't the beards?

[Infected Mushroom]

There is a huge difference under the law. Mere ignorance is rarely ever enough to establish the basis for a negligence lawsuit and it certainly will never be enough to establish the basis for torts that require an element of malice (such as discrimination or abuse of process)

The schoolteacher received no training on bomb identification, he was acting out in good faith and that is going to be the presumption. There is no reason to ascribe a higher standard of care to how he behaved given that a person in his position had a duty to warn the police if he suspected there was a bomb while at the same time didn't receive any training on bomb identification

Except that he did not act in a manner that a reasonable person in a position of authority who had just discovered a bomb would act, nor is there any indication that he communicated a belief that it was a bomb to anyone else. In fact, his actions subsequent to seeing the device indicated that he did not think of himself or the school as being in any danger.

There was no call for an orderly school evacuation.

He carried the clock to the principal's office on his own without any indication that he feared for his own safety or the safety of others while transporting the device.

He did not request a bomb disposal unit when contacting the police.

The principal did not request a bomb disposal unit when contacting the police.

The clock was placed on the principal's desk, and people stayed within feet of it in the office.

The police, when they arrived, did not call for a bomb disposal unit.

At no point during this entire process did anyone act as if they thought that this was an actual explosive device of any sort. Instead, they acted as if they were in possession of a clock.

Well that is kind of strange.