Shawna Mannon is suing a Texas school district after her son, Carter, had his locker filled with peanuts by his football teammates who were aware of his severe allergic reaction. The lawsuit alleges that the Lake Travis Independent School District failed to address the incident properly and did not intervene to stop the ongoing harassment of Carter. Despite seeking help from school authorities, Carter was allegedly subjected to relentless bullying that put his life in danger.
Carter, a 16-year-old offensive lineman on the Lake Travis High School football varsity team, disclosed his severe allergies to his teammates after they suggested visiting a restaurant known for serving peanuts. Following this disclosure, two teammates, Student G and Student B, allegedly poured peanuts inside Carter’s locker, over his uniform, and inside his football cleats. The next day, Student G threw peanuts at Carter during a football game, causing an allergic reaction. Despite efforts to address the incident with school officials and the board, the two boys did not face significant punishment for their actions.
The school district claims to have conducted a thorough investigation into the incident and responded immediately when it was reported. However, the district’s decision to suspend the players for two football games was not satisfactory to Carter’s family. Student G, who was allegedly not punished due to his status as a star player, continued to taunt Carter and even referred to the incident as an “attempted murder.” The bullying extended beyond Carter and began to affect his entire family, with social media pages targeting the Mannons.
As the harassment persisted, Carter decided to transfer to another school district to escape the ongoing bullying. His family is also in the process of selling their home and moving out of the LTISD boundaries due to the lack of intervention from the school district. The lawsuit alleges that the district’s failure to address the bullying not only violated Carter’s rights but also endangered his life. The relentless bullying and lack of consequences faced by the perpetrators have caused significant emotional distress for Carter and his family, prompting legal action against the school district.
