BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — A New York high school student alleges she was subjected to an illegal strip search after her wire bra set off her school's metal detectors.
M.K., a minor by and through her mother Sharmila Surujnath, filed a complaint Sept. 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against The City of New York, New York City Department of Education and New York City Police Department.
M.K., according to her complaint, was a 15-year-old ninth-grade student at John Adams High School in Queens on Jan. 31, 2023. The plaintiffs claim that M.K. was subjected to an unlawful strip search that violated her constitutional rights.
The plaintiffs allege that in December of 2022, M.K., a model student with no disciplinary record, began to be confused with another student who was smuggling vaping equipment into the school and that NYPD officers at the school targeted M.K. for "needless, escalating searches."
They further claim that on two occasions M.K. had been brought into a private room for tripping the school's metal detectors due to the wire in her bra and accused of having contraband. They allege that on Jan. 31, 2023, she was instructed to lift her shirt and then sent to class after no contraband was found.
They further allege the search violated school and NYPD policies that prohibit strip searches of students, as well as M.K.'s constitutional rights.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Gary Meyerhoff and Cody Anthony of Dentons US LLP in New York.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York case number 1:23-CV-06579