Michigan School District Sued After Biracial Student's Hair Cut

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI — A father has filed a $1 million lawsuit against a Michigan school district, claiming racial discrimination after his biracial daughter received an unwanted haircut at the hands of her teacher.

Jimmy Hoffmeyer filed the lawsuit on behalf of his daughter, Jurnee Hoffmeyer, in federal court on Tuesday, according to a report by MLive.com. The suit names Mount Pleasant Public Schools, librarian Kelly Mogg and teacher assistant Kristen Jacobs as defendants.

In the suit, Hoffmeyer claims the defendants violated Jurnee’s constitutional rights. It also details counts of ethnic intimidation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and assault and battery.

In March, another child cut Jurnee's hair on the school bus on her way home from Ganiard Elementary School. Hoffmeyer took the little girl to a salon to get an asymmetrical cut to make the differing lengths less obvious.

RELATED: Father 'Outraged' After Teacher Cuts Biracial Daughter's Hair

Two days later, Jurnee's hair was cut again. That time, it was by a teacher.

"She was crying," Hoffmeyer told The Associated Press of the day Jurnee came home with the haircut. "She was afraid of getting in trouble for getting her hair cut."

Hoffmeyer, who is also biracial, said he received little explanation from the school district.

On July 2, the Mount Pleasant board of education concluded a third-party investigation into the incident, MLive.com reported. The investigation concluded that Mogg did not act with racial bias and could keep her job.

The board also ruled to place Mogg on a “last chance” employment agreement, meaning any future violations would result in her termination.